What was Metallica's 1991 album Metallica's original U.S. release date?

Metallica's 1991 album Metallica was released in the United States on August 12, 1991.

The record is Metallica's fifth studio album and is commonly called the Black Album because of its minimalist black cover. Elektra Records issued it after recording sessions that had begun in October 1990.

The date is sometimes confused with July 29, 1991, when “Enter Sandman,” the album's lead single, was released. The album itself followed about two weeks later.

Its release began the band's biggest commercial era. Metallica debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, became the band's first album to top that chart, and eventually sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.