What RIAA certification did Metallica's The Black Album receive in 2025?
Answer
2× Diamond
Metallica's The Black Album received a 2× Diamond RIAA certification in 2025.
The Recording Industry Association of America awards Diamond status for shipments of ten million units in the United States. A 2× Diamond certification therefore represents shipments of twenty million units, an extraordinary figure for a heavy-metal album.
The album had already become one of the strongest sellers of the SoundScan era. It was the first album tracked in that era to pass 16 million US sales, and it remained a major catalog seller decades after its original release.
The certification reflects the continuing demand for the album rather than only its initial 1991 impact. Its singles, durable streaming audience, physical reissues, and recurring place in rock culture all contributed to its exceptional long-term performance.