What symbol appears on the cover of Metallica's 1991 album beside the band's logo?
Answer
A coiled snake
A coiled snake appears on the cover of Metallica's 1991 album beside the band's logo.
The snake is derived from the Gadsden flag, an American historical flag associated with the motto “Don't Tread on Me.” That same motto supplies the title of a song on the album, creating a visual and thematic connection between the packaging and the track list.
On the initial release, the logo and snake were embossed so subtly against the black background that they could be difficult to see. Later editions used dark gray versions that stand out more clearly, while the album's nickname remained The Black Album.