Metallica
Studio album by Metallica
Released	August 12, 1991
Recorded	October 1990 – June 1991 at "One On One" studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock
Length	62:31
Label	Elektra
Producer	Bob Rock, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Q magazine [1] Rolling Stone link
Metallica chronology
...And Justice for All (1988) Metallica (1991) Live Shit: Binge & Purge (1993)

Metallica (also known as The Black Album) is the 1991 self-titled 5th studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 500 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 500 pixel, file size: 7 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is of a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the album... A studio album is a collection of studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Hard Rock redirects here. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... For the Christian heavy metal singer, see Rob Rock. ... James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter (with drummer Lars Ulrich and sometimes guitarist Kirk Hammett), co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... ...And Justice for All is American heavy metal band Metallicas fourth studio album released August 25, 1988, by Elektra Records. ... Live Shit: Binge & Purge (1993) is Metallicas live album containing 3 CDs and 2 VHS tapes (new version: 2 DVDs) from concerts in Mexico City, Seattle and San Diego. ... An eponym is the name of a person, whether real or fictitious, who has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery, or other item. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ...

Metallica was released on August 12, 1991 through Elektra Records, and is the band's best-selling album to date, with 15 million copies sold in the United States alone as of 2007 and 22 million copies worldwide. is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ...

On the cover, only the band's logo and a coiled snake (derived from the Gadsden flag) are visible. The motto of the Gadsden flag, "Don't Tread on Me", is also the title of a song featured on the album. The Gadsden Flag The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag. ... Dont Tread On Me is the 6th song from Metallicas self-titled album. ...

Metallica DVD-Audio 5.1 mix was released in 2004 through Elektra Records. DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering very high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio includes no video and should not be confused with video DVDs containing concerts and music videos. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ...

History

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While the album and the band were critically praised and commercially successful, some fans expressed disappointment in the new direction taken by Metallica. Gone for the most part were faster staccato riffs during verses and throaty vocals found on the band's first four albums; the overall speed and complexity of the music was greatly reduced. The Black Album presented a more radio-friendly, commercially accessible Metallica, especially evidenced by the ballad "Nothing Else Matters". Moreover, following the success of "One," the breakaway single from their ...And Justice for All album, five videos were released from the Black Album. ("Enter Sandman", "Nothing Else Matters", "Sad But True", "Wherever I May Roam" and "The Unforgiven"). Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Music sample Nothing Else Matters ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Alternate Single Cover Music sample One Problems? See media help. ... ...And Justice for All is American heavy metal band Metallicas fourth studio album released August 25, 1988, by Elektra Records. ... Music sample Enter Sandman ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Music sample Nothing Else Matters ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Sad But True is a heavy metal song recorded by Metallica for their fifth studio album Metallica (1991; also known as The Black Album). ... Wherever I May Roam is the fifth track on the Metallica (aka Black) Album by the heavy metal band Metallica. ... The Unforgiven is one of the slower songs on the self-titled album, Metallica (also known as the Black Album). ...

The lyrics of The Black Album, written by James Hetfield, were much more personal and introspective in nature than previous Metallica albums.^{[citation needed]}. For example, "The God That Failed" dealt with Hetfield's mother's death from cancer and her Christian Science beliefs which kept her from seeking medical treatment. "Nothing Else Matters" expresses the connection Hetfield felt with a girlfriend while out on the road. The album also ended Metallica's tradition of including a lengthy instrumental track on each album. James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter (with drummer Lars Ulrich and sometimes guitarist Kirk Hammett), co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Christian Science is a religious teaching regarding the efficacy of spiritual healing according to the interpretation of the Bible by Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (first published in 1875). ...

Reception

Professional reviews:

• Rolling Stone (9/5/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's" - "Several songs...seem destined to become hard-rock classics....[They] effectively bridg[e] the gap between commercial metal and the much harder thrash of Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth."

• Spin (9/99, p.146) - Ranked #52 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s" - Spin (p.89) - "This record's diamond-tipped tuneage stripped the band's melancholy guitar excess down to melodic, radio-ready bullets and ballads."

• Entertainment Weekly (8/16/91) - "Rock's preeminent speed-metal cyclone...Metallica may have invented a new genre: progressive thrash." - Rating: B+

• Q (8/00, p.127) - Included in Q's "Best Metal Albums Of All Time" - "Transformed them from cult metal heroes into global superstars....bringing a little refinement to their undoubted power."

• Melody Maker (12/91) - Ranked #16 in Melody Maker's list of the top 30 albums of 1991 - "In a committed move away from their thrash roots, Metallica was slower, less complicated, and probably twice as heavy as anything they'd done before."

This article is about the magazine. ... Spin is a music magazine that reports on all the music that rocks. Founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was (until its closure) the worlds oldest weekly music newspaper. ...

Bob Rock

Metallica was produced by Bob Rock, who was originally asked to mix the album as the band was impressed with his work as producer on the Mötley Crüe album, Dr. Feelgood.^[2] Initially, the band was not interested in having Rock produce their album, but changed their minds as Ulrich stated; "We felt that we still had our best record in us and Bob [Rock] could help us make it."^[2] The Black Album's sound was a marked difference from the stripped down production of the previous album. Rock altered the band's working schedule and routine so much that they swore never to work with him again. The animosity and tension between band and producer was documented in the documentaries A Year And A Half In The Life of Metallica and Classic Albums: The Black Album. Both explore and document the intense and merciless recording process that resulted in the Black Album. For the Christian heavy metal singer, see Rob Rock. ... Mötley Crüe (pronounced Motley Crew) is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1980. ... Dr. Feelgood is the fifth album by heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on September 1, 1989. ...

Despite the controversies between the band and Rock, he continued to work with the band up until, and including, the 2003 album St. Anger.

Grammy success

Metallica won their third Grammy Award for the Black Album. Many felt the band should have won a Grammy for their ...And Justice for All album - the band was nominated in the "Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal" category, but lost to Jethro Tull. When accepting the Grammy for the Black Album, drummer Lars Ulrich made a point of thanking Jethro Tull for not releasing an album that same year. However, Tull did release an album that year, titled Catfish Rising, but it did not see the same critical success as Crest of a Knave. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... ...And Justice for All is American heavy metal band Metallicas fourth studio album released August 25, 1988, by Elektra Records. ... The Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental was awarded at the Grammy Awards of 1989 for music released in the previous year. ... For the 18th-century agriculturist after whom the band was named, see Jethro Tull (agriculturist). ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ... Catfish Rising is an album by the British progressive rock group Jethro Tull, released in 1991. ... Crest of a Knave is an album by the British progressive rock group Jethro Tull, released in 1987. ...

Tour

The world tour following the Metallica album, initially dubbed the Wherever We May Roam Tour and then later the Nowhere Else to Roam Tour, saw Metallica on the road for the next three years. The tour was in part documented in the A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica documentary, as well as the 3-CD, 2-DVD (or 3-VHS) boxset Live Shit: Binge & Purge. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... // Category: ... A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica DVD cover, by Pushead A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica is a two-part documentary about the process of making the Metallica album (or The Black Album), and the following tour. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... CD may stand for: Compact Disc Canadian Forces Decoration Cash Dispenser (at least used in Japan) CD LPMud Driver Centrum-Demokraterne (Centre Democrats of Denmark) Certificate of Deposit České Dráhy (Czech Railways) Chad (NATO country code) Chalmers Datorförening (computer club of the Chalmers University of Technology) a 1960s... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Bottom view of VHS cassette with magnetic tape exposed Top view of VHS cassette with front casing removed The Video Home System, better known by its abbreviation VHS, is a recording and playing standard. ... Live Shit: Binge & Purge (1993) is Metallicas live album containing 3 CDs and 2 VHS tapes (new version: 2 DVDs) from concerts in Mexico City, Seattle and San Diego. ...

Track listing

All songs written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich except where noted. James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter (with drummer Lars Ulrich and sometimes guitarist Kirk Hammett), co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ...

1. "Enter Sandman" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Kirk Hammett) – 5:34
2. "Sad But True" – 5:23
3. "Holier Than Thou" – 3:48
4. "The Unforgiven" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett) – 6:27
5. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:46
6. "Don't Tread on Me" – 4:01
7. "Through the Never" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett) – 4:03
8. "Nothing Else Matters" – 6:29
9. "Of Wolf and Man" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett) – 4:17
10. "The God That Failed" – 5:05
11. "My Friend of Misery" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Jason Newsted) – 6:50
12. "The Struggle Within" – 3:54

Music sample Enter Sandman ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Kirk Lee Hammett (born on November 18, 1962) is the lead guitarist in the band Metallica. ... Sad But True is a heavy metal song recorded by Metallica for their fifth studio album Metallica (1991; also known as The Black Album). ... The Unforgiven is one of the slower songs on the self-titled album, Metallica (also known as the Black Album). ... Wherever I May Roam is the fifth track on the Metallica (aka Black) Album by the heavy metal band Metallica. ... Dont Tread On Me is the 6th song from Metallicas self-titled album. ... Music sample Nothing Else Matters ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Jason Newsted is an American bass guitarist, currently a member of Voivod and Rock Star Supernova. ...

Bonus track (European and Asian editions)

13. "So What?" (Nick "Animal" Kulmer, Chris "Magoo" Exall, Clive "Winston" Blake) – 3:09

So What is the third album by Joe Walsh, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... Rhythm guitarist known as Magoo, with punk band The Anti-Nowhere League between 1980 & 2001 Categories: Guitarist stubs ... Clive Harvey Blake was the Bass guitarist for the punk group The Anti-Nowhere League between 1981 and 1997. ...

Singles

• "Enter Sandman" – 1991
• "Don't Tread On Me" - 1991
• "The Unforgiven" – 1991
• "Nothing Else Matters" – 1992
• "Wherever I May Roam" – 1992
• "Sad But True" – 1992

Music sample Enter Sandman ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Dont Tread On Me is the 6th song from Metallicas self-titled album. ... The Unforgiven is one of the slower songs on the self-titled album, Metallica (also known as the Black Album). ... Music sample Nothing Else Matters ( file info) Problems? See media help. ... Wherever I May Roam is the fifth track on the Metallica (aka Black) Album by the heavy metal band Metallica. ... Sad But True is a heavy metal song recorded by Metallica for their fifth studio album Metallica (1991; also known as The Black Album). ...

Band Members

• James Hetfield – rhythm guitars, vocals, acoustic guitar on "The Unforgiven", rhythm and lead guitar on "Nothing Else Matters"
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitars, Sitar on "Wherever I May Roam"
• Jason Newsted – bass
• Lars Ulrich – drums

James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California[1]) is the main songwriter (with drummer Lars Ulrich and sometimes guitarist Kirk Hammett), co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. ... Kirk Lee Hammett (born on November 18, 1962) is the lead guitarist in the band Metallica. ... Jason Newsted is an American bass guitarist, currently a member of Voivod and Rock Star Supernova. ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ...

Guests

• Michael Kamen – arrangement of orchestration on "Nothing Else Matters"

Michael Kamen (April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American composer (especially of film scores), orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician. ...

Charting

Album

Singles

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States

This is a list of best-selling albums in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America. ...

References

1. ^ Q magazine, issue 253, released in August 2007
2. ^ ^{a b} Rosen, Craig. The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. Billboard Books, 1996 ISBN 0-8230-7586-9