Metallica's 1991 album Metallica is the band's fifth studio album.
The record followed Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. Those four earlier albums established Metallica as one of the leading American thrash-metal bands before the self-titled record broadened their sound.
Metallica was recorded after the group hired Bob Rock, whose production work with Mötley Crüe had impressed the band. The resulting album used more concise arrangements, prominent bass, and a polished, heavy production style compared with the complexity of the previous records.
Although fans commonly call it The Black Album, Metallica is the official title. The self-titled approach was a deliberate choice after the band considered other names, including Five. The album's success made it the band's best-selling release and a defining mainstream breakthrough.