The Metallica album officially titled Metallica is commonly known as The Black Album.
It is the band’s fifth studio album, released in 1991 through Elektra Records. Unlike albums with an alternate subtitle, its official name is simply the band’s name. Fans and music writers adopted The Black Album as a convenient nickname because of the cover’s nearly black design.
The title can create confusion when discussing Metallica’s discography. “Metallica” may refer to the band, while Metallica in an album list refers specifically to this self-titled release. The informal name distinguishes it from the group and also separates it from earlier albums such as Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All.
The record’s identity became especially recognizable through its stark artwork, large logo, snake image, and restrained presentation. Its five singles and enormous sales eventually made the nickname familiar worldwide.