Metallica's The Black Album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
This was the band's first album to reach the top position on that US chart. It sold approximately 598,000 copies in its first week, a remarkable result for a heavy metal group whose audience had previously been associated more strongly with the underground and specialist metal scenes.
The album's success reflected both its musical accessibility and an extensive promotional campaign. Songs such as “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” and “Nothing Else Matters” broadened Metallica's reach without removing the band's heavy identity.
The chart achievement is sometimes mixed up with the album's later longevity. Debuting at number one describes its initial chart entry; separately, the record spent four consecutive weeks at the top and went on to become one of the best-selling albums in the United States.