Which Metallica album first topped the Billboard 200: The Black Album or an earlier release?

The Black Album was Metallica's first album to top the Billboard 200.

Released on August 12, 1991, Metallica debuted at number one in the United States and remained at the top of the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks. It was the band's first chart-topping album, following several highly acclaimed records that had built its reputation without reaching number one.

The album's commercial breakthrough reflected more than heavy promotion. Its production was clearer, its songs were generally more direct, and singles such as Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters reached audiences far beyond the established thrash-metal community.

Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All are often associated with Metallica's peak early period, but neither was the band's first Billboard 200 number-one album. The Black Album also debuted at number one in several countries and eventually became Metallica's best-selling release.