Which Metallica album came immediately before The Black Album in the band's studio-album sequence?

...And Justice for All came immediately before The Black Album in Metallica's studio-album sequence.

Released in 1988, ...And Justice for All was Metallica's fourth studio album. Metallica followed it in 1991 as the band's fifth studio record. The transition marked a major stylistic change: the earlier album is known for complex, extended arrangements, while The Black Album uses a slower, heavier, and more streamlined approach.

The two albums are also linked by the band's expanding public profile. ...And Justice for All introduced Metallica to a much larger audience, especially through One, while The Black Album transformed that momentum into worldwide mainstream success.

Master of Puppets preceded ...And Justice for All, so it is not the immediate predecessor. Load followed The Black Album in 1996. Keeping the release order straight helps distinguish Metallica's classic 1980s thrash period from its 1990s evolution.