Metallica's The Black Album first reached number one on the US Billboard 200.
It was the band's first album to top that chart, arriving at the summit after selling 598,000 copies in its first week. The record's commercial breakthrough extended well beyond its opening period, with the album remaining a major seller for decades.
The chart achievement is sometimes confused with the performance of Metallica's earlier albums. ...And Justice for All had been successful but peaked at number six, making the leap to number one especially significant. The Black Album also reached number one in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Sweden.
Its chart success reflected both the strength of songs such as “Enter Sandman” and the album's broader, more polished production. The record helped move Metallica from a major metal act into worldwide mainstream rock.