What was Metallica's original working title for the album later called The Black Album?

Metallica's original working title for the album later called The Black Album was “Married to Metal.”

The phrase arose during a period when Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted were going through divorces. The title was ultimately treated as a running joke rather than a serious final name, and the band considered several other possibilities during the packaging discussions.

Other names mentioned included “Five,” reflecting the album's position as Metallica's fifth studio record, and the title of one of its songs. The group eventually chose the simple eponymous title Metallica, which avoided giving the record a separate descriptive name.

The nickname “The Black Album” developed from the original cover design. The band's logo and a coiled snake were embossed so subtly against the black background that they were difficult to see. That visual identity made the informal nickname more memorable than the official title for many listeners.