Metallica (commonly known as The Black Album) is the self - titled fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. Released on August 12, 1991 by Elektra Records, it received widespread critical acclaim and became the band 's best - selling album. Metallica produced five singles that are considered to be among the band 's best - known songs, which include "Enter Sandman '', "The Unforgiven '', "Nothing Else Matters '', "Wherever I May Roam '', and "Sad but True ''. A sixth song, "Do n't Tread on Me '', was also issued to rock radio shortly after the album 's release, but the song did not receive a commercial single release. The album marked a change in the band 's sound from the thrash metal style of the previous four albums to a slower and heavier one rooted in heavy metal. Metallica promoted the album with a series of tours. In 2003, the album was ranked number 252 on Rolling Stone 's 500 greatest albums of all time.
when did metallica's black album come out
August 12, 1991