The Black Album is Metallica's fifth studio album.
Its official title is Metallica, matching the band's name. It followed Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. The album was released in 1991, three years after its immediate predecessor.
The record marked a major transition in Metallica's career. Earlier albums had established the band as a leading thrash-metal act, while the fifth album used simpler structures, broader dynamics, and more radio-friendly song lengths. That change expanded the group's audience dramatically.
Listeners sometimes count live recordings, compilations, or later deluxe editions when discussing the band's releases. Those are not part of the numbered studio-album sequence. Counting only Metallica's original studio albums makes The Black Album the fifth.