What was the original working title for Metallica’s album now known as The Black Album?
Answer
Married to Metal
The original working title for Metallica’s album now known as The Black Album was Married to Metal.
The phrase arose because Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted were going through divorces during the album’s creation. According to Ulrich, the title was treated more as a running joke than as a serious final choice, and the band eventually abandoned it.
Other names were considered, including Five and the title of one of the songs. The band ultimately selected the simple eponymous title Metallica. The stark artwork then encouraged listeners and journalists to use The Black Album as a practical nickname.
The finished cover features the angled Metallica logo and a coiled snake derived from the Gadsden flag. On the original release, both elements were embossed against a black background and were intentionally difficult to see. The song “Don’t Tread on Me” also connects the album to the flag’s motto.