When was Metallica's The Black Album released?

Metallica's The Black Album was released on August 12, 1991. It was issued by Elektra Records as the band's fifth studio album and was officially titled Metallica, although its stark cover led listeners to call it The Black Album.

The release followed a major shift in Metallica's sound. Compared with the faster thrash-metal approach of the band's first four albums, the new record used slower tempos, heavier grooves, clearer production, and more concise songwriting.

The album had been recorded between October 1990 and June 1991, primarily at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Producer Bob Rock pushed the band to record collaboratively and to focus on performance, tone, and vocal arrangement.

Its release began one of the most successful periods in heavy-metal history. The album debuted at number one in several countries, produced five commercial singles, and eventually became Metallica's best-selling album. The date is sometimes confused with the July 29, 1991, release of its lead single, “Enter Sandman.”