Elektra Records originally released Metallica’s 1991 album Metallica in the United States.
Elektra had been Metallica’s American label since 1984, when it issued Ride the Lightning. The label handled the US release, distribution, and promotion of The Black Album as the band expanded from a large underground following into a global mainstream act.
The album’s campaign benefited from multiple singles and heavily rotated music videos, especially “Enter Sandman.” Elektra’s role is sometimes confused with international licensing arrangements, because other companies distributed the record in different territories. The question refers specifically to the original US release label.
Metallica later regained control of its catalog through changes in music-industry ownership and distribution, but the historical 1991 credit remains Elektra Records. The label’s distinctive logo and long association with the band appear on original editions and contemporary discographic listings.