What symbol appears on The Black Album cover beneath Metallica's logo?
Answer
A coiled snake
A coiled snake appears on The Black Album cover beneath Metallica's logo.
The snake is derived from the Gadsden flag, an American symbol associated with the motto “Don't Tread on Me.” On the original cover, both the band logo and snake were embossed against a nearly black background, making them intentionally difficult to see.
That restrained design helped give the album its widely used nickname, The Black Album, although the official title is simply Metallica. The snake and logo also appear on the back cover, while the booklet presents band portraits and printed lyrics.
The cover's imagery is sometimes mistaken for a generic heavy-metal emblem. It is specifically a Gadsden-flag-inspired snake, and the song “Don't Tread on Me” reinforces the connection between the artwork and the album's themes.