What was Metallica’s working title for The Black Album before the band chose its eponymous name?

Metallica’s working title for The Black Album was “Married to Metal.”

The title reflected a running joke connected with divorces experienced by Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted during the album’s troubled production. According to the album’s history, the band discussed several possible names before settling on the simple eponymous title Metallica.

Other ideas were also considered, including “Five,” a reference to the record’s position as the band’s fifth studio album. The band ultimately chose its own name because the members wanted to keep the presentation simple and direct.

The album’s nickname, The Black Album, came from its packaging rather than its official title. The initial cover used a nearly black background with embossed versions of the band logo and a coiled snake derived from the Gadsden flag. Because the emblems were difficult to see, listeners began calling the self-titled record The Black Album.