Metallica’s fifth studio album is Metallica. Released on August 12, 1991, the self-titled record became widely known as The Black Album because of its mostly black packaging and subtly embossed band logo and snake design.
The album followed ...And Justice for All and marked a major shift in Metallica’s sound. Its songs were generally slower, more concise, and more polished than the band’s earlier thrash-metal material. This change helped Metallica reach a much larger mainstream audience.
The record contains major songs including “Enter Sandman,” “Sad but True,” “The Unforgiven,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Nothing Else Matters.” It became Metallica’s best-selling album and their first to reach number one on the Billboard 200.
A common mix-up is treating The Black Album as the official title. The official title is simply Metallica; The Black Album is its established nickname.