Which Metallica album is commonly known as The Black Album?

Metallica is the album commonly known as The Black Album.

Released in 1991, it is officially self-titled, using the same name as the band. The nickname came from its nearly black cover design, which features a barely visible coiled snake and the Metallica logo. The informal name distinguishes the record from the band itself in everyday conversation.

The album followed ...And Justice for All and marked a major stylistic shift. Its songs were generally shorter and more direct, with slower tempos, heavier production, and a greater emphasis on memorable hooks.

The title is sometimes confused with other black-covered metal albums, but The Black Album specifically refers to Metallica's fifth studio record. It became the band's commercial breakthrough and remains its most widely recognized album.