Metallica first topped the US Billboard 200 with its 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album.
The achievement was a breakthrough for the band: Metallica became its first album to reach number one on that chart. The record also debuted at number one in ten countries, demonstrating that its appeal extended well beyond the United States.
The Billboard 200 ranks albums and extended releases, whereas the Billboard Hot 100 ranks individual songs. That distinction matters because “Enter Sandman” and the album itself have separate chart histories and should not be treated as one release.
The album stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks. It eventually became one of the most commercially successful albums in American music history, helped by sustained sales long after its initial release.