Metallica was the title of the band’s fifth studio album, released in 1991.
Although its official title is simply Metallica, the album is almost universally identified by its nickname, The Black Album. That nickname comes from its nearly black cover, which features a subtle gray outline of a coiled snake and the band’s logo.
The self-titled record followed Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. It represented a major stylistic shift away from the longer, more complex arrangements associated with some of those earlier albums.
The album’s accessible songwriting and polished production helped Metallica reach listeners far beyond the established thrash-metal audience. Songs such as “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters” became defining parts of the band’s catalog.