Metallica is the official title of the 1991 album widely nicknamed The Black Album.
The record is self-titled, meaning its formal name is the same as the band's name. Fans and media adopted “The Black Album” as a descriptive nickname because of the cover's predominantly black design and the restrained presentation of the band logo and snake emblem.
The nickname distinguishes this release from Metallica's broader catalog, especially when discussing songs, tours, remasters, or anniversary editions. It is not the album's official title, and the original Elektra release is credited simply to Metallica.
The self-titled record was the band's fifth studio album. It followed ...And Justice for All and marked a major shift toward shorter, slower, and more direct songs. That change helped the album reach listeners beyond the band's established thrash-metal audience while retaining Metallica's heavy guitar sound.