Metallica reached number one on the Billboard 200 with its 1991 album Metallica.
It was the band's first album to debut at the top of the United States album chart. The record sold 598,000 copies in its first week, an exceptional result for a heavy metal release at the time.
The album remained at number one for four consecutive weeks. Its chart performance reflected the broad appeal of songs such as “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Wherever I May Roam.”
The achievement also marked a change in how Metallica was perceived commercially. The band had already built a large following through touring and earlier albums, but Metallica brought that audience together with listeners from mainstream rock and pop radio.