Metallica's 1991 album topped the Billboard 200 for the first time in the band's career.
The self-titled record debuted at number one in the United States after its August 1991 release. It remained at the top for four consecutive weeks, making the achievement a clear milestone rather than a brief rise on the chart. The album's success transformed Metallica from a highly respected metal band into a mainstream international act.
The Billboard 200 ranks albums and extended releases in the United States. It is different from the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks individual songs. “Enter Sandman,” for example, reached number 16 on the Hot 100, but that song-chart result is separate from the album's number-one Billboard 200 position.
The Black Album also reached number one in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Sweden. Its US chart breakthrough helped establish the album as Metallica's best-selling release.