What working title did Metallica use for its 1991 album before choosing the self-titled name?

Metallica’s 1991 album was briefly given the working title “Married to Metal” before the band chose the self-titled name.

The temporary title reflected a turbulent period during the album’s creation. Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted were all going through divorces while the band was recording, making “Married to Metal” an in-joke connected to their personal circumstances.

The title was not used for the finished release. The band also considered “Five,” a reference to the album’s position in its studio-album sequence, along with using the title of one of the songs. They ultimately chose Metallica because they wanted something simple and direct.

The final cover design reinforced that simplicity. The band logo and a coiled snake appear against a largely black background, with the emblems initially embossed so subtly that they were difficult to see. That presentation led to the enduring nickname The Black Album, even though that phrase is not the record’s official title.

“Married to Metal” therefore belongs to the album’s development history, not its commercial title or an alternate released edition.