Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album, ranks as the band's fifth studio album.
It followed Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. Those four earlier records established Metallica as one of the leading bands in thrash metal before the 1991 album broadened its audience.
The album's official title is Metallica, matching the band's name. Because of its stark black cover, it became widely known as The Black Album, a nickname that distinguishes it from the band's self-titled identity.
The fifth-album position is often confused with the record's place in Metallica's broader release history. It was not the band's fifth release of any kind, since the group had also issued singles, a video release, and the 1987 extended play The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited.