What was the original working title for Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album?
Answer
Married to Metal
The original working title for Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album, was Married to Metal.
The title emerged as a running joke connected with divorces involving Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted during the album's creation. It was never used as the final commercial title, and Lars Ulrich later characterized the idea as a joke rather than a serious naming plan.
The band considered other possibilities, including Five and the title of one of the songs. They ultimately chose the simple eponymous title Metallica, which matched their desire to keep the presentation straightforward.
The nickname “The Black Album” came later from the cover's almost entirely black design. It is not the official title, and Married to Metal is not an alternate title used on the finished release. These distinctions explain why the record can have a formal title, a famous nickname, and an earlier working title at the same time.