A coiled snake appears in the lower-right corner of the cover of Metallica's 1991 album, commonly known as The Black Album.
The snake was derived from the Gadsden flag, an American Revolutionary-era symbol associated with the warning “Don't Tread on Me.” That phrase also became the title of the album's eighth track, linking the artwork and track listing.
The cover places the band's logo in the upper-left corner and the snake in the lower-right. On the original release, both emblems were embossed so subtly against the black background that they were difficult to see. Later editions used dark-gray versions that stand out more clearly.
The artwork helped create the album's familiar nickname. The official title is Metallica, but the nearly black design distinguished it from the band's earlier, more elaborate covers and became one of the most recognizable images in heavy metal.