What was Metallica's previous studio album before Metallica, commonly called The Black Album?

...And Justice for All was Metallica's previous studio album before Metallica, commonly called The Black Album.

...And Justice for All was released in 1988 and was the band's fourth studio album. It was the first Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted, although the final mix made his bass difficult to hear. The album's complex arrangements and long songs represented the band's technical thrash-metal phase.

The Black Album followed three years later and moved toward shorter structures, slower tempos, stronger grooves, and a more polished production style. That shift did not eliminate the band's heavy sound, but it made the music more accessible to listeners who were unfamiliar with thrash metal. Producer Bob Rock played a major role in shaping the new approach.

The album title “Metallica” is the official name, while “The Black Album” is the widely used nickname inspired by its nearly black cover. Later releases such as Load and Reload came after it, while Master of Puppets preceded ...And Justice for All.