What working title was considered for Metallica’s 1991 album before it was named Metallica?

“Married to Metal” was the original working title considered for Metallica’s 1991 album before the band chose the simple title Metallica.

The phrase referred to the divorces experienced by Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted during the album’s troubled production. According to the album’s history, the title was treated partly as a running joke rather than a serious final choice.

Other possibilities were also discussed, including “Five” and the title of one of the album’s songs. The band eventually selected the eponymous name because it wanted to keep the presentation simple. The stark artwork then encouraged fans and media to call the record The Black Album.

“Married to Metal” is sometimes confused with other Metallica title stories, especially the abandoned title Metal Up Your Ass, which belonged to the band’s debut album before it became Kill ’Em All. Those are separate episodes in Metallica’s history.