What working title did Metallica first use for its 1991 self-titled album?

Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album originally had the working title “Married to Metal.”

The phrase arose from a running joke connected with divorces involving Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted. It was never retained as the official title, and the band eventually chose the simpler eponymous name Metallica.

Other ideas were discussed during the album’s development, including “Five” and the title of one of the songs. The final choice emphasized the band’s identity rather than a concept or narrative theme, helping the record present itself as a definitive statement.

The nickname The Black Album came later from the packaging. The original cover used a nearly black background with a dark Metallica logo and a coiled snake derived from the Gadsden flag. That visual design led listeners to distinguish the self-titled record from the band itself by its informal color-based name.