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Tracklist
Enter Sandman | 5:29 | ||
Sad But True | 5:24 | ||
Holier Than Thou | 3:47 | ||
The Unforgiven | 6:26 | ||
Wherever I May Roam | 6:42 | ||
Don't Tread On Me | 3:59 | ||
Through The Never | 4:01 | ||
Nothing Else Matters | 6:29 | ||
Of Wolf And Man | 4:16 | ||
The God That Failed | 5:05 | ||
My Friend Of Misery | 6:47 | ||
The Struggle Within | 3:51 |
Credits (10)
- Jason NewstedBass
- Lars UlrichDrums
- James HetfieldGuitar [Guitars], Vocals
- Kirk HammettLead Guitar
- George MarinoMastered By
- Bob RockProducer
Notes
Released on August 12th, 1991 by Elektra, commonly referred to as The Black Album because of its packaging.
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. This album made metal universal, but also created a gap between older and newest fans.
It became the band's best-selling album, certified 16× platinum by the RIAA in 2012, and has sold over 16,000,000 copies in the United States.
The snake in the artwork and the track "Don't Tread On Me" were inspired by the Gadsden flag, a historical American flag designed in 1775.
The cover is almost black; James Hetfield said "It was a simple black cover and you had to listen to the music.
You wouldn't be distracted by a drawing on the front."
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. This album made metal universal, but also created a gap between older and newest fans.
It became the band's best-selling album, certified 16× platinum by the RIAA in 2012, and has sold over 16,000,000 copies in the United States.
The snake in the artwork and the track "Don't Tread On Me" were inspired by the Gadsden flag, a historical American flag designed in 1775.
The cover is almost black; James Hetfield said "It was a simple black cover and you had to listen to the music.
You wouldn't be distracted by a drawing on the front."
Versions
Filter by
475 versions
, | – | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Brazil | 1991 | Brazil — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Elektra – 61113-1, Elektra – 9 61113-1 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Sony – SRCS 5577 | Japan | 1991 | Japan — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Elektra – CD 61113 | Canada | 1991 | Canada — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album Dolby HX Pro | Elektra – 9 61113-4, Elektra – 61113-4 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1, PolyGram – RP 2266 | South Korea | 1991 | South Korea — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album PDO, UK Pressing | Vertigo – 510 022-2 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release | Baron Music – BM-CD 700 | Poland | 1991 | Poland — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-2, Vertigo – CDEPR 1221 | Mexico | 1991 | Mexico — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Colombia | 1991 | Colombia — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Vertigo – STARCD 5856 | South Africa | 1991 | South Africa — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – PK MMC 9125, MMC Records (2) – PK MMC 9125 | Hungary | 1991 | Hungary — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Greece | 1991 | Greece — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-2, Phonogram – 510 022-2 | Australasia | 1991 | Australasia — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album PDO, UK Pressing | Vertigo – 510 022-2 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Popron – 50 148-2 | Czechoslovakia | 1991 | Czechoslovakia — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – PL MMC 9125, MMC Records (2) – PL MMC 9125 | Hungary | 1991 | Hungary — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Spain | 1991 | Spain — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Sound-Pol – SPB CD 017 | Poland | 1991 | Poland — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica LP, Album | Vertigo – 20.079 | Venezuela | 1991 | Venezuela — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album Dolby HX Pro, B NR | Elektra – 96 11134 | Canada | 1991 | Canada — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Portugal | 1991 | Portugal — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album ARC Pressing | Elektra – 9 61113-2, Elektra – 61113-2 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release | Music Studio (2) – 700 | Poland | 1991 | Poland — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Elektra – 9 61113-4 | Jamaica | 1991 | Jamaica — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Enter Sandman Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release | MG Records (2) – MG 1329 | Poland | 1991 | Poland — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4, Phonogram – 510 022-4 | Australasia | 1991 | Australasia — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica LP, Album | Vertigo – 31026 | Ecuador | 1991 | Ecuador — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4 | Indonesia | 1991 | Indonesia — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album PDO, France Pressing | Vertigo – 510 022-2 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4, Vertigo – MCE 1221 | Mexico | 1991 | Mexico — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4, Vertigo – 510 622-4 | Turkey | 1991 | Turkey — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-1 , PolyGram – 79344, Vertigo – 510-022-4 +1 more label... | Argentina | 1991 | Argentina — 1991 | ||||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-4 | Uruguay | 1991 | Uruguay — 1991 | New Submission | |||
![]() | Metallica 2×LP, Album, Repress | Vertigo – 510 022-1 | Spain | 1991 | Spain — 1991 | New Submission | |||
Metallica 2×LP, Album, Promo | Vertigo – 510 022-1, PolyGram – RP 2266 | South Korea | 1991 | South Korea — 1991 | New Submission | ||||
![]() | Metallica CD, Album | Vertigo – 510 022-2 | Europe | 1991 | Europe — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | Metallica Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release | Elbo – 0650 | Poland | 1991 | Poland — 1991 |
Recommendations
Reviews
Show All 368 ReviewsI've heard these songs a million times since 1991...and this pressing makes them sound fresh, alive, and headbang-worthy.

referencing Metallica (2×LP, Album) 510 022-1
Super! Except sibilance on Nothing else Matters,unfortunately - guess it’s in everywhere…

Edited 15 days ago
Got my copy back in 2016, has many skips mostly side 3. But the sound quality itself is great.
But I haven’t listen to it in its entirety because I don’t really care for this era of Metallica. In fact, it’s my only copy. Meanwhile I have handfuls of great sounding copies of all their 80s releases, and those deluxe box sets of the 4 albums. But I’m wondering if I should buy a different reissue of TBA on vinyl, one that doesn’t skip. But then again, I don’t know if the copy I buy will skip, I really don’t want to waste money. Anyone know of a great pressing I can try to find used?
But I haven’t listen to it in its entirety because I don’t really care for this era of Metallica. In fact, it’s my only copy. Meanwhile I have handfuls of great sounding copies of all their 80s releases, and those deluxe box sets of the 4 albums. But I’m wondering if I should buy a different reissue of TBA on vinyl, one that doesn’t skip. But then again, I don’t know if the copy I buy will skip, I really don’t want to waste money. Anyone know of a great pressing I can try to find used?

Edited 16 days ago
Why didn't they include the "A year and a half" DVD but just the outtakes? Like, it would have been just one more DVD, why just include the outtakes? Makes this set seem really incomplete...

This is a truly wicked album, and the sound quality is killer. Instruments are crisp, clear seperation, no surface noise on my pressing.

One of the most balanced masterings of the Black Album I have heard. I have owned many pressings of this album, including original and reissues.
There is a distinct “mah!” in “Wherever I May Roam” that sounds like it was added after the actual recording… I found it kind of comical. Anyone else?

I’ve just done an A/B listen with this 2014 reissue - https://www.discogs.com/release/6007719-Metallica-Metallica
Without doubt, my 2014 pressing is better. Much, much punchier lows & more importantly it doesn’t have the super bright top end this one does. You can actually ‘feel’ the kick drum on the 2014 pressing. Both are CB cuts, but definitely different ones, as the runout groove sizes are quite different. 2014 seems to use more of the lacquer, which would make sense.
Without doubt, my 2014 pressing is better. Much, much punchier lows & more importantly it doesn’t have the super bright top end this one does. You can actually ‘feel’ the kick drum on the 2014 pressing. Both are CB cuts, but definitely different ones, as the runout groove sizes are quite different. 2014 seems to use more of the lacquer, which would make sense.
Edited 21 days ago
referencing Metallica (4×12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, White, Box Set, ) 511831-1
How can 85 have this box set if only 50 were made 🤔