Elektra Records released Metallica’s self-titled album, commonly called The Black Album, in 1991.
The album arrived on August 12, 1991, through Elektra, the major label that had released Metallica’s preceding studio album, ...And Justice for All. By this point, the band had moved far beyond its earliest independent-label period and had developed a substantial international audience.
Metallica’s debut, Kill ’Em All, had originally been released through Megaforce Records in 1983. That earlier label is a frequent source of confusion when identifying The Black Album’s release company. Blackened Recordings is also associated with later Metallica releases and catalog control, but it was not the label credited with the original 1991 issue.
Elektra’s release campaign included five commercial singles: “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.” The label support helped the album reach number one in multiple countries and become the band’s best-selling studio release.