Who is credited as the main lyricist on Metallica's The Black Album?

James Hetfield is credited as the main lyricist on Metallica's The Black Album.

Hetfield was Metallica's lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and principal lyricist. He and drummer Lars Ulrich formed the band's central songwriting partnership, while guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Jason Newsted contributed ideas and instrumental parts to some songs.

The album's lyrics cover nightmares, war, travel, isolation, mortality, and personal conflict. “Enter Sandman” focuses on childhood fears, “Nothing Else Matters” explores emotional connection, and “The Unforgiven” presents a narrative about oppression and regret. These subjects helped the band reach listeners beyond the traditional metal audience.

The credit does not mean Hetfield wrote every musical element alone. Metallica's songs were developed collectively, and the album credits commonly list Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, and Newsted in different combinations. Still, Hetfield's role as the primary lyric writer is the clearest answer when the question concerns the words rather than the overall songwriting team.