What working title was considered for Metallica's 1991 album before the band chose Metallica?
Answer
Married to Metal
“Married to Metal” was a working title considered for Metallica's 1991 album before the band chose Metallica.
The phrase referred to the personal circumstances surrounding the recording period: Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted were going through divorces. Lars Ulrich later described the title as a running joke rather than a serious final choice.
The band considered other possibilities, including “Five” and the title of one of the songs. They eventually selected the eponymous title because they wanted to keep the presentation simple.
Fans now commonly call the record The Black Album because its original packaging placed a dark Metallica logo and a coiled snake against a nearly black background. That nickname is not its official title and was not the album's original working title.