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Metallica (album)

Metallica (also known informally as The Black Album) is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in 1991 by Elektra Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making Metallica the band's first album to do so. Currently, it has sold over 15 million copies in the United States alone. It is the band's most successful album.

Metallica
Studio album by
Metallica
ReleasedAugust 12, 1991 (1991-08-12)
RecordedOctober 6, 1990 – June 16, 1991
StudioOne on One, Los Angeles
GenreHeavy metal
Length62:40
LabelElektra
Producer
Metallica chronology
The Good, the Bad & the Live
(1990) 		Metallica
(1991) 		Load
(1996)
{{{This album}}}
Singles from Metallica
  1. "Enter Sandman"
    Released: July 29, 1991[1]
  2. "The Unforgiven"
    Released: October 28, 1991[2]
  3. "Nothing Else Matters"
    Released: April 20, 1992[3]
  4. "Wherever I May Roam"
    Released: October 19, 1992[4]
  5. "Sad but True"
    Released: February 8, 1993[5]

Recording and production

The recording of Metallica was troubled. It was the first time the band had worked with producer Bob Rock. Him and the band often came into conflict with one another. Ulrich, Hammett and Newsted also got divorces with their wives because of the stress. Four demos of the album were recorded on September 13, 1990; "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters" and "Wherever I May Roam". The lead single Enter Sandman was the first song written. Despite this, it was the last to receive lyrics.

Musical style and lyrics

The album was seen as a departure from the thrash and speed metal of the first four albums. It has slower tempos and a more straightforward heavy metal sound. Despite this, there is still some characteristics of thrash metal.[6] Metallica has also been described as hard rock[7] and groove metal.[8] Many fans see the album as the dividing point between "old" and "new" Metallica.

The lyrics of Metallica were written by James Hetfield. They're more personal and introspective than the band's previous albums. Bob Rock said Hetfield's songwriting became more confident. His lyrics were inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and John Lennon. According to Chris True of AllMusic, "Enter Sandman", for example, is about "nightmares and all that come with them".[9] Hetfield said the album's lyrics were more introspective due to him wanting "lyrics that the band could stand behind – but we are four completely different individuals. So the only way to go was in."[10]

Release and reception

Five singles were released from the album: "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad but True". Of them, the best-selling was "Enter Sandman". It won Best Metal Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. The song "Don't Tread on Me" was also issued to rock radio shortly after the album's release. Despite this, it never saw a commercial single release.

Metallica is the band's best-selling album. Over 30 million copies sold worldwide.[11] It debuted at number one in ten countries. It also spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. The album was Metallica's first to top the album charts. It also won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1992. Metallica is one of the best-selling albums worldwide. It's also one of the best-selling albums in the United States since Nielsen SoundScan tracking began. It was certified 16× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2012.

Track listing

  1. "Enter Sandman" - 5:29
  2. "Sad But True" - 5:24
  3. "Holier Than Thou" - 3:47
  4. "The Unforgiven" - 6:26
  5. "Wherever I May Roam" - 6:42
  6. "Don't Tread On Me" - 3:59
  7. "Through the Never" - 4:01
  8. "Nothing Else Matters" - 6:29
  9. "Of Wolf And Man" - 4:16
  10. "The God That Failed" - 5:05
  11. "My Friend of Misery" - 6:47
  12. "The Struggle Within" - 3:51

Metallica (album) Media

  • Metallica performing live "Of Wolf and Man" at O2 Arena, London in 2008

References

  1. ↑ "Enter Sandman". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Unforgiven". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Nothing Else Matters". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Wherever I May Roam". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sad but True". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  6. ↑ Harrison, Thomas (2011). Music of the 1980s. p. 60. ISBN 9780313366000.
  7. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn (December 14, 2024). "Metallica: A Photo Timeline of Their Remarkable Career". I-Rock 93.5. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ DiVita, Joe (February 28, 2022). "10 Best Groove Metal Albums Ever, Chosen by Dagoba". Loudwire. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ True, Chris. "Enter Sandman Song Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  10. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rob (April 2001). "Playboy Interview: Metallica". Playboy. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009.
  11. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (October 10, 2012). Kirk Hammett: Some kind of monster fan. http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Kirk-Hammett-Some-kind-of-monster-fan-3850850.php#page-2. Retrieved August 11, 2023. "The group's eponymous fifth album, known to fans as The Black Album, meanwhile, sold 30 million copies worldwide.". 
Metallica
James Hetfield | Lars Ulrich | Kirk Hammett | Robert Trujillo
Jason Newsted | Cliff Burton | Dave Mustaine | Ron McGovney
Albums
Kill 'Em All | Ride the Lightning | Master of Puppets | Garage Days Re-ReVisited | ...And Justice for All | Metallica | Load | ReLoad | Garage Inc. | S&M | St. Anger | Death Magnetic
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