What was the original working title for Metallica's 1991 album, later nicknamed The Black Album?
Answer
Married to Metal
The original working title for Metallica's 1991 album was Married to Metal.
The phrase arose as a running joke connected with divorces involving Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Jason Newsted during the album's production period. It was never used as the final commercial title. The band eventually chose the simple, self-titled name Metallica.
Other possibilities were discussed, including Five, reflecting the album's place as the band's fifth studio record. The eventual eponymous title emphasized simplicity and avoided giving the record a separate concept name. Listeners later supplied the enduring nickname The Black Album because of the cover's nearly black presentation.
Married to Metal is therefore a behind-the-scenes working title, not an alternate official album title. It is also distinct from the album's song titles, such as Don't Tread on Me and Nothing Else Matters. The detail illustrates how the record's identity developed before its August 1991 release.