Metallica's fifth studio album, released in 1991, was officially titled Metallica.
The record is self-titled, meaning its official name is the same as the band's name. Because the cover is dominated by black artwork and a subtle gray snake, audiences soon began calling it The Black Album.
That nickname distinguishes it from the band's earlier and later releases, but it is not the album's formal title. The record followed ...And Justice for All and preceded the band's next studio album, Load.
The album's self-titled design helped make its packaging instantly recognizable. Its simplified cover and polished sound also represented a deliberate shift away from the complex, extended arrangements associated with earlier Metallica albums.