Metallica’s self-titled record, commonly known as The Black Album, is the band’s fifth studio album.
It followed Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. The album was released in 1991 and became a major turning point in Metallica’s career, pairing the band’s heavy sound with more concise arrangements and a highly polished production.
Although listeners usually call it The Black Album, Metallica is its official title. That nickname distinguishes it from the band itself and refers to the cover’s predominantly black design. The album’s success also made it one of the most recognizable fifth-album milestones in popular music.
A common mix-up is counting live releases, video albums, or the Garage Days EP in the sequence. The “fifth” designation refers specifically to Metallica’s numbered full-length studio albums, not every release in the group’s discography.