What was Metallica's first album to top the Billboard 200?

The Black Album was Metallica's first album to top the Billboard 200.

Released under the formal title Metallica, the record debuted at number one in the United States after selling 598,000 copies in its first week. It remained at the top of the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks.

The achievement represented a major commercial milestone. Metallica had already built a substantial following through albums such as Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All, but The Black Album's more direct songwriting and polished production brought the band to a much broader audience.

The album also reached number one in several countries outside the United States. Its long chart life became another defining feature: it eventually passed major Billboard 200 longevity milestones and became one of the best-selling albums in American recording history.