Which album-chart ranking did Metallica first achieve with its 1991 self-titled album?

Metallica first reached number one on the Billboard 200 with its 1991 self-titled album.

The album debuted at the top of the United States album chart, making it Metallica’s first album to reach number one there. It sold 598,000 copies in its first week and remained at the summit for four consecutive weeks.

This achievement marked a major change in the band’s commercial position. Metallica had already released four influential albums, but the Black Album’s concise songwriting, strong singles, and polished production brought the group to a much wider audience. It also debuted at number one in several other countries, including the United Kingdom.

The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums and EPs in the United States using consumption data. It is an album chart, so the answer is not the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks individual songs. “Enter Sandman” reached number 16 on that separate singles chart.