Metallica (commonly known as The Black Album) is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica.

It was released on August 12, 1991, by Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles over an eight-month span that frequently found Metallica at odds with their new producer Bob Rock. The album marked a change in the band’s music from the thrash metal style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound.

Metallica promoted Metallica with a series of tours.

They also released five singles to promote the album: “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam”, and “Sad but True”, all of which have been considered to be among the band’s best-known songs.

The song “Don’t Tread on Me” was also issued to rock radio shortly after the album’s release but did not receive a commercial single release.