Metallica

Iconic. More bangers than i thought.

One of my fav metallica albums, really like pretty much everything on this album and its big nostalgic for me.

Yeeeeeeeahhh

Fantastic, honestly. It's not even really my genre, but it's so good it doesn't matter.

Pour moi c’est exceptionnel

Classic hard rock/thrash metal album, classic songs, no weakness in the album.

Great classics

The essential black album. Always a go to when getting into metal and is pretty decent considering I've only heard a few of the songs before.

Excellent album, all my favorite songs on it! I love it. Masterpiece as an album. A classic for sure. Amazing beats, impeccable lyrics and coherent music all along. And this unique voice!

Nothing like Enter Sandman to get me hype for football season. One of my personal favorite songs. You do get the sense listening to this album that Metallica feels more refined and geared towards a more "mainstream" hard rock sound. That said, so many songs here kick ass like Sad But True (underrated imo), The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters. Front to back it's a really awesome listen. I feel like with Metallica everyone has their own personal tastes for what their favorite album is (...And Justice For All is mine), but The Black Album is always solidly in the conversation. I put it on par with Master Of Puppets, which I scored as a 5. Only feels fair to give this one a 5 too.

I don't think I have listened to this one start to finish before. Looking at the tracklist though I had to make sure it wasn't a greatest hits album cause that's what it looks like at a glance. It's kind of strange that a self-titled album is the band's fifth album. Doesn't matter though, this one fucks.

Definitely the "lightest" of the first 5 albums which I believe are their classics. This doesn't mean at all that it still doesn't rock out so hard on a lot of songs, just has some slower songs thrown in. Still an all time album for me, and had some of the great S&M songs come out afterwards. It is impossible for me to not give this a 5 because of how awesome it is. But in terms of the first 5 Metallica albums it is definitely the lowest.

One great album

It's their best album.

As dismissive I am of Metallica post ..And Justice for All, this album has some really fantastic tracks. I should put this album back into rotation.

my first 5/5. banger fest.

One of the greatest albums ever recorded

One of the first full albums i had ever heard, before i had ever heard of a band selling out, all i heard and still hear is great music. One of Metallica’s best

No brainer 5

Duh

Album that redefined Metallica’s sound. Award winning and every song a classic. When you start with enter sandman this album never fails.

IDC HOW 'MAINSTREAM' THIS ALBUM IS, OK? THE FIRST 5 METALLICA ALBUMS ARE 𝓐𝓛𝓛 5/5. JUST SO SO PERFECT!! WAS SOOOO HAPPY TO RECEIVE AN EXCUSE TO RELISTEN! fave songs: of wolf and man & through the never

Very good, very nice.

Most popular album. 2nd best

Una de los mejores discos de Metallica, el último de su mejor etapa. Despues de este disco empezó su declibe, creando discos mucho mas comerciales dejando de ser fiel a su estilo. Que se pueden escuchar y hay temas buenos pero se nota la diferencia y autenticidad con respecto a este y anteriores.

Solid

High energy, while still diverse and creative

This was what I was expecting from all the Metallica we’ve had. Starts with enter the sandman which obviously slaps but then continues at such a high level. Less thrashing for the sake of thrashing

10/5

This is their best album even though it’s basically their sell out album. I could almost say with confidence that this album turned non fans into fans. If you’re wondering what it sounds like before listening, take any song you know by Metallica that isn’t on this album and make it a little “poppy”. There you go. Choice cut: Nothing Else Matters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

La primera vez que escucho un álbum de música metal en su totalidad, y sin duda el álbum homónimo de Metallica es uno de los álbumes imprescindibles del género musical y uno de los más exitosos del grupo. Pese a haber sido lanzado en 1991, suena atemporal, instrumentales cuidadas al detalle, voces desgarradoras y estremecedoras, que hacen que el oyente sienta vulnerabilidad, angustia, rebeldía… Y una lista de canciones que consiguen captar la atención del público con sus letras más explicitas y sus metáforas más brillantes. Desde el inicio del disco, “Enter Sandman”, el grupo dirige al oyente a un lugar oscuro (Exit: light, enter: night, take my hand). La misteriosa guitarra, los golpes de batería y la mítico riff del metal, dan comienzo a un álbum legendario. La continuación del álbum es un repertorio de piezas musicales que tratan diferentes temas desde un punto de vista introspectivo. La crítica a la facilidad que tiene la sociedad de juzgar la vida ajena “Holier Than Thou”, en la impactante “The Unforgiven” el grupo describe la triste realidad de cómo el ser humano, las expectativas ajenas, y el concepto “normal” destruyen la personalidad y creatividad de cada persona, desde la infancia, hasta la muerte. “Wherever I May Roam” es el reflejo de la vida del artista, carretera, gira, y hacer de la calle su propia casa, la vida nómada. En las tres últimas canciones del álbum encontramos la pérdida de la fe en The God That Failed”, la depresión, el aislamiento y la dificultad para lograr salir de estas situaciones en “My Friend Of Misery” y la presión, la confusión, el hecho de decidir sobre nuestras vidas, y como todo esto nos conduce a una lucha interna en el maravilloso cierre de álbum “The Struggle Within”. Pero la joya por excelencia del álbum, y uno de los temas imprescindibles del grupo es “Nothing Else Matters”, un momento de calma en un álbum lleno de “ruido”. No solo en lo instrumental, también en letras profundas e incluso duras para reflexionar sobre ellas. En esta balada de amor metal, se muestra la faceta más vulnerable del grupo; algo que convenció al público, que hizo de esta canción todo un himno, y no es para menos. Todos los temas del álbum comparten un mismo elemento, los solos de guitarra ejerciendo de puente de cada canción. Esto no es solo una maravilla auditiva sino también su seña de identidad. “Metallica” es un álbum referente para la música metal, por todas y cada una de las instrumentales, mezclando incluso en algunos temas guitarras clásicas y eléctricas, por la interpretación de cada canción y por los mensajes tan poderosos que transmiten sus letras. No cabe duda de que es digno merecedor de ocupar el puesto de uno de los mejores álbumes de la Historia.

Great album.

One of the few memories I still have from being 5 years old is listening to Enter Sandman on my cousin's bedroom, I would ask him to play it again and again, not knowing the lyrics or the band or anything. Years passed and I forgot about this song, until I was 13 or 14, when a car passed by me playing this song at full volume. I couldn't believe what I was listening to, it sounded just as cool as it did before. I still didn't know the name of the band or the name of the song, but I memorized it and started singing it constantly until I found it. Enter Sandman was the presentation card of what would become my favorite band ever. Metallica became my gateway to metal, my first inspiration to grab a guitar, and the key to many many memories. Love it or hate it, this album became a milestone in the history of metal, bringing the sound to mainstream. You won't find any other album of this genre that has multiple songs with over a billion reproductions on Spotify. An album that stood the test of time, songs that are still being played and referenced in pop culture. Truly a masterpiece.

Do I prefer Master of Puppets? Yes, definitely! Is this a good, heavy album? Hell yeah! This album is the one metalhead love to hate because that's when Metallica really reached mainstream success (even though they were already pretty big before that). But the truth is, it is a solid album. A bit long, but once again, solid and consistent.

>>>> The Beatles

Not a huge Metallica fan but this is a great album and a classic.

Made me feel like I was in middle school all over again. Fucking excellent album.

Rock classic!

Einfach ein fantastisches Album - Mehr kann man nicht sagen

Hammer Album! Für mich eines der besten Heavy Metal Alben, voller starker Songs inkl. The Unforgiven. Wieso wird sowas nicht an einem Wochenende vorgeschlagen? 😜

My first taste of metal and still my favourite. There’s just something about it that feels way more digestible than the rest except for Fuel, which will always be my number one. The album gives me crazy nostalgia for Year 9 and Stubbz think he spent six months singing The One, and now it’s ingrained in my brain.

This opens with “Enter Sandman” which is probably their biggest song, and yeah, it’s great, that intro is a great way to kick off an album. “Sad But True” is fantastic, “The Unforgiven” is a softer song but one of my favorites. “Wherever I May Roam” is also a personal favorite. “Through The Never” is a great heavier one. As is “The God That Failed”. “My Friend Of Misery” oddly reminded me of Black Sabbath, not a bad thing that song is excellent. This album is start to finish a fantastic listen, it’s my favorite (toss up with Master Of Puppets) Metallica album and Metallica are the band that got me into metal. This is great.

Awesome hard rock songs. Slower than I remember, but in a good way. Every note feels intentional

Let's gooooo!!!! "Enter Sandman" is one of my favorite songs! I also saved "Sad But True" and "The Unforgiven." It's just so good. His voice/their voices are perfectly gruff without being obnoxious. The guitar work is phenomenal. I also saved "Wherever I May Roam" ✨ Vibes ✨. I also saved "Don't Tread On Me" "Nothing Else Matters" The God That Failed" and "My Friend Of Misery." I don't think I've saved more songs on any other album. 😂 But I also just put my process into place in which how many songs that I save from an album contribute to it's overall rating. (This still would have gotten 5 stars).

It’s the album that changed everything. For better and for worse. It certainly wasn’t anywhere near as hard as their previous stuff. And the lost them some very avid supporters. But man did this album bring them a monstrous fanbase. Enter Sandman gets the bulk of the airtime and love but there are several songs on this album that most bands would love to have in their catalog. Nothing Else Matters, Wherever I May Roam, The Unforgiven and Sad But True all stood out in their own way.

Some monster hits, feels like a greatest hits at times, great energy throughout

In my top 10 of all time

What an album! From starting with Enter Sandman through Nothing Else Matters, every song is just a great track!

Best Song: The God that Failed Some may say this is when Metallica went commercial. So fucking what! Great album and perfect introduction to someone new to Metallica.

own

I think best metal album of all time

This is not a hard one to write. When this album came out, it created a seismic shift is rock/metal because, for the first time, metal went mainstream. The reason is Metallica actually put Jason’s Newsted’s bass on the track as opposed to leaving it turned down to ‘haze’ him into the band after Cliff Burton’s death (dick move, Mr. Ulrich). In truth, the album slowed down the temp and used a heavier drop-D tuning, and in doing so created the groove metal era. This can be attributed more to producer Bob Rock than to the band. Metal purists say this was the end of metal but for most it became the Golden Era for the genre as established bands like Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Testament, Suicidal Tendencies, Motley Crue and new bands like Pantera, Sepultura and Machine Head (now all legends) all followed suit. There are some great songs, such as the radio/video king Enter Sandman, and the ballads Unforgiven (the original the only good one of the three they did) and second intro-guitar players dream Nothing Else Matters (no cords, just four open strings), the heavy Sad But True and God Who Failed, and Newstead's immortal bass-riff contribution My Friend of Misery. I am biased: I was one of millions of 14 year olds who waited in line for this album. In retrospect, Metallica had better albums earlier, but this one set the entire genre ablaze. It’s an accessible must listen.

I had heard Enter Sandman before, so I was curious how the rest of the album would compare. Great stuff!

Classic. Many memorable and singable songs that are iconic and ageless. Can replayed over and over and over again. They say this was the last good Metallica album. It's the one with the hits on it.

1. Enter Sandman - 7.5/10 2. Sad But True - 9/10 3. Holier Than Thou - 8.5/10 4. The Unforgiven - 10/10 5. Wherever I May Roam - 10/10 6. Don’t Tread On Me - 8/10 7. Through the Never - 8/10 8. Nothing Else Matters - 10/10 9. Of Wolf and Man - 8.8/10 10. The God That Failed - 9/10 11. My Friend of Misery - 9.5/10 12. The Struggle Within - 8.5/10 9/10

While I tend to disagree with this list about the inclusion of most of the albums that are on this list from the 1990s, this is easily one of the most influential metal albums and one of the most influential albums in general of the 1990s.

When I bought this CD, I listened for two weeks every time I drove, and loved it more each time. But it's a bit of an acquired taste. I grew up in Philly, which loves Metallica. You will need to tolerate some abrasiveness, since this is metal. The vocals transition so well, from normal speaking and singing, to subtle growling, to shouting and screaming. Every song will have, in addition to the song itself, at least one complex solo or instrumental passage which is also worth hearing.

What a crazy start with enter the sandman, nothing else gets close to that level but relatively solid album.

5/5. 5 legit bangers on this. And the rest of the album isn't much of a let up. Now excuse me as I take advantage of this adrenaline rush to run through a brick wall and destroy my enemies...

Not everybody's favourite style but undeniable gem of hard rock.

One of the best of all time.

Amazing

May just be their best start to finish.

Is it metal? Is it Metallica selling out? Is it Metallica's best album? Doesn't matter, it's simply a great listen. 4.5/5

Love this album, always have!

There is a reason it sold so many copies. It’s more approachable than their earlier work but still hard edged enough for most of their fans to get behind. Never mind the dickheads who say anything after “..and Justice For All” is crap. They are just butt hurt that they now have to share their favorite band with others.

A solid album through out, numerous hits, the one where they sell out

I think it's pretty funny that I'm getting this album today since I'm seeing them in concert tonight. Anyways, lots of "real" metal heads complain about this album but there's a reason why this is one of the best selling albums of all time. It's a fantastic album and probably the perfect introduction to Metallica and therefore the genre of metal as a whole.

Álbum clássico do Metallica. O de maior sucesso comercial. Furou a bolha. Letshuoer D-13.

Who knew I liked Metallica?

Already reviewed, listened again for the umpteenth time because it's a mammoth of an album. 6 stars all day. Original review: "Bored of the haters. I love MetallicA and I love this album. Everyone should own it and worship it, whether you like metal or not. Less than 5? PAH, I think not, Metal up your ass!!"

Balls to the wall from the first chord of "Enter Sandman" to the last note of "The Struggle Within." This came out while I was in college and was the standard bearer by which all future metal albums was measured against. This blew my socks off then....and it still does.

Metallica is actually the perfect name for this band and this album because it represents the pinnacle of what metal should be. They go beyond just screaming and shredding to create something musical and melodic while still keeping the aesthetic of metal. Favorite Track: The Unforgiven

a Classic album !!

Absolute classic

Masterpiece! Perfect album. Every track is super!

magnificent metal - play it loud !

YES

Peak Metallica, no skips, such fun.

As much as I can't stand Lars for being both a shit drummer AND human...I can't give this album less than a 5....

More polished and less aggressive than their earlier albums and has some of their best songs. An all time great.

Metallica (The Black album) is certainly a beast of an album. I already had some high expectations for these guys after hearing both ...And Justice For All and Master Of Puppets but even this album managed to surpass those two in just about every way. The songs here are fast, heavy and melodic in all the right spots and they can put more effort into being one of those things whenever they need to and it is always handled incredibly well. The production here is also really great with the bass not being pushed back as much as it was in their last album. There isn't a single issue i can even think of with this album so it's getting full marks. Best Song: Enter Sandman Worst Song: The Unforgiven

The small town where I grew up didn't have a record store. It had a photo store that also sold records, CD's and cassettes. When The Black Album was released in the summer of 1991 I was the first person in town to own it. I was waiting at the photo shop when it arrived, and the woman who owned the place handed it to me right out of the box. CD AND cassette. My friend Bill was doing carpentry work on a house around the corner and when I gave him the news as I headed back to my car, he literally dropped his hammer in mid swing and took off down the sidewalk, tool belt and all. He was probably the second person to own it. But as excited as I was to hear the new album from my favorite band, I'd seen MTV's world premier video for Enter Sandman weeks before and I new what I was in for. Metallica was no longer my band. They were everybody's. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has been known to say, "yeah we sellout. Every place we play". Respect. But this avoids answering the question. And the answer is yes. The Black Album is, not unlike U2's Achtung Baby, a deliberate effort to change the sound of their music in order to appeal to a larger, more mainstream audience. This point is not debatable. If you want proof, just watch A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica. Concerning the new direction Metallica took with The Black Album, I will just say this. They didn't need to change their sound. They still would have been the biggest band in the world. And if The Black Album had been produced by Flemming Rasmussen instead of Bob Rock and if Cliff Burton hadn't died, today's world would be a very different place. But, like Def Leppard's Hysteria, Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magic, and the above mentioned U2 situation, The Black Album is not just a sellout, it is also a GREAT album. It's influence on 90's metal cannot be overstated, and the fact that Metallica was pretty much single handedly responsible for thrash metal's eventual mainstream acceptance is a gargantuan achievement, and one that should be honored. Despite the manufactured appeal, and the fact that I just don't think My Friend of Misery measures up to the rest of the album, I'm giving this a five. Honestly, I think every pre-load Metallica album deserves a five. 5

No words. Just rock.

This is an all-time great album. This is one of the first metal albums I listened to. The guitar, the drums, the tunes. Nothing else matters. 'Enter Sandman', 'Sad but true', 'Nothing else matters', 'The unforgiven'. All of these songs are amazing. I've always enjoyed their more rock type songs.

This band always misaligned with me. This is their first album that I became aware of them so to start to hear all the sellout accusations then seems goofy. Looking back i think they were probably just too stupid to understand that whole thing. I think this album would be full blown comedy the likes of spinal tap but I also think they don't understand humor or irony or much of anything. But because of that this is almost a perfect album. It's so straight and so stupid but man they get away with it because they are 100% serious about it. Which is even more stupid.

Been a long time since I've listened to this album but it's timeless. All great songs. Production sounds so good.

5/5 its brilliant

Metallica. 5/5

This is an easy 5. This album plays so strong out of the gate and has at least a half dozen songs that are staples to their setlist ever since its release. A couple at the end could have been cut but I’m not going to hold that against them in this case since the album as a whole is one of the undeniable Mike markers in rock and roll.

Normally I’d be rating a record down due to its length. But even though the back end of this gets a bit repetitive, this gets top billing. Its influence, accessibility, popularity, legacy and overall level of game-changing rockness can’t be denied. To quote lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap: “How much more black could it be? And the answer is none…none more black.” A sure fire banger across the board.

Easy 5 and for me, one of the greatest of all time in my book. I think every song hits. Sad But True is a great example of something that is so freaking heavy and not even that fast. Sandman riff is timeless. Shit, every song has a great riff. Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters are an incredible heavy ballads. Greatness.

If you were to ask middle school/high school me to rate this album it would be 10/10 and likely the greatest album of all time. My tastes have changed but hard to deny this album and the impact it had on metal/hard rock. Metalheads and soccer moms both agreed this album ripped ass (in a good way). I listened objectively and at the end had favorited the first 10(!) tracks! Cut the last two songs and it’d be perfect. 4.5/5

A solid banger

6/5 No nyt! Albumi kokonaisuutena kivenkova timantti, josta ei heikkoa kohtaa löydy. "The Unforgiven" on omalla top20 parhaat biisit maailmassa listalla. "Wherever I May Roam" ja "My Friend Of Misery" suosikkeja levyltä. Ja kaikki loputkin.

Olihan hieno. En kovin paljoa tätä genreä itsekseni kuuntele, mutta melkein kaikki kappaleet silti tunnistin. Ja onhan Nothing Else Matters vaan upea!

Onhan se hyvä....

Helpoin 5 ⭐️ tähän mennessä. Kulutan kyseistä genreä ja erityisesti juuri tämän aikakauden. Yksi neljästä suurimmasta trash metal bändeistä, kahta olemmekin jo ehtineet kuulla mutta mahdammeko päästä nauttimaan niistä kahdesta muustakin. Kovia riffejä ja biisi toisensa jälkeen vie levyä eteenpäin junan lailla. Levylle ei huonoa kappaletta ole eksynyt. Platta on täyttä 💎

Nothing Else Matters was the first Metallica song I ever heard. I remember that in high school, they sometimes played it during the graduation ceremony. 😅 Anyway, so many hits. My personal favorite is Enter Sandman because I heard it live in Munich in 2024 while standing in the Golden Circle. It was an unforgettable experience to sing this song in front of James! (I was only about three meters away from him.) A totally incredible way to close the show!

It has "the song" on it but also loads of other bangers, I remember first getting hold of this album in 1999 I reckon. It's a beast. Mid 5.

Som en vänlig manspread

This is the epitome of "all killer, no filler". Possibly the best rock album I've ever heard. I can't fathom how they followed up on this album. Great songs, cool chord progressions, the way they utilize silence to create emphasis. Really astounding.

Bored of the haters. I love MetallicA and I love this album. Everyone should own it and worship it, whether you like metal or not. Less than 5? PAH, I think not, Metal up your ass!!

JAAA

A classic. Song after song of catchy hits with insanely good guitar riffs and solos. Lars reigns it in on drums, great songwriting across the board.

9.5/10

Well I’ll be damned

I own this album...

through the course of their first four albums, metallica’s popularity was climbing. the band’s fourth album “…and justice for all” brought the band their first video for mtv (the iconic anti-war song “one”), and things looked bright for the bay area thrash quartet. enter producer bob rock. rock brought a different outlook to the band, challenging them to expand their sound and lyrical approach. the approach paid off well, as this album pushed them even further into the mainstream, gave them their first number one album on the billboard 200 and ultimately paving the way for the album to become one of the greatest selling albums of all time. largely because of this album, today metallica is probably the biggest metal band in the world. while it’s not my favourite album in their canon (“…and justice for all” still holds a special place in my heart), it’s hard to deny this album’s impact. it has undeniably heavy songs, as well as more radio friendly songs. i still remember someone from high school referring to “enter sandman” as “the song the whole world knows”… and when i was in high school in the early 90’s, that was a pretty accurate statement. highlights: “sad but true” “wherever i may roam” “nothing else matters” “the god that failed”

I mean, it’s a classic.

This landmark record caused waves when it was released, a change of sound in Metallica's discography, and an introduction of what was to come over the 90s. But this album is an outlier, it sounded heavier from the rest of the 90s albums, it was slower than previous records and still managed to gather a reception that inspired generations. The songs are cool and, from my personal experience, one of the top records from their catalog. Always a joy to listen to, recommended always as an introduction to the band.

Everything about it was good

Great metal album. Basic but tah5s because it's the metal album

Yes this is the record where Metallica first “sold out” and many of its tunes are way overplayed. But any metal fan who denies that this is a great record is fooling themselves. Metallica masterpiece the art of writing equally heavy and catchy songs on this album in a way which has never been duplicated. “Sad But True” has one of the coolest, heaviest riffs ever. “Unforgiven” and “Nothing Else Matters” are both gorgeous ballads. “Wherever I May Roam” is epic. Most of the album tracks are also really strong. “Through The Never” and “The God That Failed” are ones I hadn’t remembered that are excellent. Even “Enter Sandman” has its charm despite having taught the world that Metallica was now for children.

Not a die hard fan but i heard them since i can remember. Some of the track are so overplayed for me that i tune them out. But it was a chance for me to listen to some of the other tracks on the album i rarely hear. Personally i feel like this album is well written, easy listened and part of Metal history. The hits kinda overshadows the weaker tracks on the album (the three last tracks in my opinion) For me this is not the best Metallica album and is a bit more Safe and pop oriented, but when you can wake most people in the middle of the night and and ask them to sing some of the songs on this album you are writing something right in my book(if you like it or not). This is one of those albums that are "must include" in a must listen list (like "dark side of the moon" or "Thriller")

Zwar nicht das Beste aber ein solides Metallica Album!

this is my favorite band, but my least favorite album of em (5 star anyway [my friend of misery is amazing]) I dont really know why its my least favorite thou, I guess I could say I dont like the stillness of the guitar sounds on it? even though there are standouts for me, like mfom, nem and the unforgiven, the rest of the tracks or feel extremely overplayed, or are just too ,still, or I just dont realy vibe with them, of course, compared to the rest of metallicas discography

Of Wolf and Man, Through the Never, The God That Failed, The Struggle Within are all underrated.

A metal classic 5*

The m in \m/ stands for Metallica.

1. Nothing Else Matters 2. The Unforgiven 3. Sad But True 4. The God That Failed 5. Wherever I May Roam 6. Enter Sandman 7. Holier Than Thou 8. My Friend of Misery 9. Don't Tread on Me 10. Of Wolf and Man 11. Through the Never 12. The Struggle Within

Listened Before? Y One of the best hard rock/metal albums of all time and it's not particularly close. One of the most prolific metal bands of all time - in their prime with all players at the top of their games, and an awesome producer on top of that. Historically good. Added to Library? Already There Songs added to playlist: Enter Sandman

Metallica being Metallica. Great listen. Had forgotten what this album did for metal.

I can't give this less than 5 stars - so crisp and clean while being so raw and full of emotion. This brings metal into the art scene and I love that.

Классика!

A standard

10/10 great album!

I'd give this a 4 if we were just comparing to better Metallica albums, but this album was so influential on my own musical taste and an inspiration to learn guitar back in high school I'll have to give it a 5 just for its influence on my personal life.

I was rockin 4.5 -> 5

Metallica is one of my favorite bands, but I do hold them to account where it's due. For example: St Anger, Death Magnetic, and Lulu (I'm a Lou Reed hater). I can definitely acknowledge the first three of their albums as different and excellent, but not necessarily better in my opinion. They're great, but for different reasons. This album, for me marks the beginning of my personal favorite era of Metallica: Black Album through S&M1. That's unpopular, but I don't give a fuck. I love earlier stuff and albums from 2016 to present too. Also, more unpopular opinions: I like Jason Newstead. He's a great bassist and it must have sucked to have felt like a stepchild in the shadow of the prodigal firstborn. Anyway, this album is great, and there are no misses for me on this album. Great production, Newstead's parts are not only audible in the mix but also significantly contributive; heavy, dark, melodic, angry, sad, tender lyrics and instrumentation. I have a hard time finding fault with this album, but if I need to be picky, I'd say once The Struggle Within hits its stride after a solid intro, it becomes the weakest track on the album. What I miss on this album compared to their previous albums (a HUGE instrumental track) is made up for by the middle passage of My Friend Of Misery. It's no Orion, but it's a beautiful fucking bit of music. All in all, FUCK. YES. Great album 🤘 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love this album. It really meant a lot to me when I was younger. It was really good to hear this in its entirety today. Brought back good memories. I know that people don't really LOVE this one since it was the album that Metallica "sold out" to. But still, it proved to me to be a great gateway album into older Metallica albums as well as metal as a whole.

5 o melhor metallica

A classic. I would not listen everyday in my headphones but sometimes it hits hard

Motivațional. Legenda, it hits hard

An important change in sound and style for Metalica that some criticise as an attempt to reach a wider audience. Perhaps, but then again, it was wildly popular because it contains several very good songs. 9/10

I’ll never forget hearing Enter Sandman as a kid and it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. That moment shaped my taste in music for the next 25 years after.

Classic. The album that got me into Metallica and then hit me into their previous heavier albums. Really enjoyed listening to it again after many years of it being “too obvious” or over listened. Great!

Classic.

What do I need to say about the album that opens with perhaps the best Metallica song ever, "Enter Sandman"! I also really liked "Don't Tread on Me" and "Of Wolf and Man".

Shape-SHIIIIFT!!! 5/5

All killer, no filler.

One of my favourites of all Rock albums and most favourite of Metallica. Back in 1992, in post Soviet Ukraine, my best friend's sister came back from America as exchange student and brought Sony Walkman cassette player and this Metallica album, which I have never heard before. That was a shock to the system, sound quality and type of music you couldn't think of. That memory will stay with me for the rest of my life.

First song starts nostalgic and epic. Classic known track by the band. 10/10 song and great opener to the album. Epic solos and vocals. Second song starts heavy with guitars, and slow drums. Sounds groovy. Sounds really nice and similar vocals style to the first track. Halfway enters an epic solo. Third song starts interesting with drums and guitars, epic solo. Only gets better as the song goes on. Fourth song starts really nice and nostalgic, considering I've listened to it before. Song is a really nice and epic power ballad. One of their best songs ever, in my opinion. Fifth song sounds hauntingly really good at the starts. Becomes heavy and epic. Really great solos! Iconic and great song! Sixth song starts off upbeat yet heavy. Nice growls. Really good progressions. Seventh song starts nice with heavy guitars and drums. Great vocals. Epic riffs! Eighth song is a very iconic and nostalgic power ballad. No words, one of their best known songs ever. Truly a masterpiece! Ninth song starts really aggressive and epic with the guitars and drums. Sounds dark, in a good way. Tenth song starts grungy and sludgy, very nice. Not the usual heaviness, I like the variety between the songs. Sounds epic and a tad edgy. Nice end. Eleventh song starts suspenseful and interesting. Sounds underrated and really great with great melodies, riffs and epic solos. From 3:25 it becomes one the best songs. Twelfth and last song starts interesting with the drums and guitars. Epic riffs, and really good vocals. Amazing solos. 9.5 out of 10 rating. 5 out of 5 stars rating.

fukyeah

Yup (5)

Love this album. Total nostalgia

YESSS AT LAST!! The best Metallica album, with my favourite James Hetfield ad-lib, the iconic "YOHO" in Enter Sandman!! Perfection

Classic Metallica! Easy 5 stars here. One of my favourite albums with so many absolute bangers. Nothing else matters is my favorite track

EPIC!

Really enjoyed it. They seem to have matured from thrash to more foot stompy riffs here. Not ashamed to give it a 5, and stand by my opinion that S&M is appalling

My first album here! So appropriate!

Already fond of this one.

Bangers bangers bangers. Sett deg på en Harley Davidson og kjør gjennom midtvesten. Godt balansert album, egentlig alle de beste låtene til Metallica på en gang. Mega album, men litt repetitivt mot slutten

I remember when this album came out. I was in college and it was a huge release. One of the most commercial Metallica albums. I really enjoy this album.

Good album. Heard most of the songs before

LOVE THIS ALBUM.

When the best metal band in the world became the best rock band in the world. The black album is divisive for its departure in style from “classic” Metallica but its success is undeniable and well deserved. The songs become much slower and groovier while still having that Metallica edge to them. James’ vocals never stop cutting through the mix like a hot knife and the whole things just feels so good. There’s a reason Enter Sandman and Sad but True get played by even the most vanilla of rock n roll listeners. Metallica brought hard rock to the masses. This album is a gem of American music. All while having one of the worst professional drummers of all time.

Great rock! Really got me in the zone.

I forgot what a great album it is loved it

Their most accessible album…its metal with a pop side to it, but still classic Metallica. 5/5

I've never been a huge metal fan, but Metallica has always been a blast. Especially after yesterday's junk metal album, this was a treat. The guitar work in these songs is incredible, just a total romp from start to finish. Kicks off with the banger Enter Sandman. Continues on to more good songs, with breakouts The Unforgiven and Wherever I May Roam. And then Nothing Else Matter comes on, such an incredible song. Metallica is a great metal band, but if they ever got tired of that, they could totally make bank on power ballads. The rest of the album keep going strong. Not a bad song on the entire thing. Best song: Nothing Else Matters

This is more like it. Classic album.

A great album I never need to hear again since the radio and I played it to death in the 90s. The hits are amazing but there's a lot of sludgy chugging but decidedly not thrashing filler to go with them. This and, even more so Appetite for Destruction, are the pinnacle of hard rock and it's been radically diminishing returns ever since.

Fueron un hito, innegable mente en momentos difíciles del genero

7 year old me waiting by the TV to see the the "Enter Sandman" music video was super stoked to see this album pop up. My preference is thrash Metallica but a transition to more mainstream hard rock doesn't get much better than this. Absolutely classic album.

Metal bias but so good. Pounding hard rock with some slower melodic tunes to show they aren’t just loud and shouty

Охренеть. Какая же база! Да тут все треки могут залетать в топ-1001 трек за всю историю! Такого драйва, уничтожения я, наверно, никогда до этого не слышал! 6/5

If there is a hard rock/metal band that is critically acclaimed and has found mainstream success while still being respected in all circles, its Metallica. This album is damn good. I skipped Enter Sandman because its a meme now. The rest of this project is freakishly perfect. Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven are all timers and definitely deserve their place in the greatest songs of all time. One tidbit: Only one of my friends in grade school had parents that were cool enough to be hardcore christians and Metallica fans. Gloria’s minivan was my early exposure to this music One last tidbit because this was our weekend album and that inherently makes me care more to write it I went to Oracle Park for the Napa valley wildfire benefit show. Dave Matthews opened for Dead and Co who opened for Metallica. One of my favorite show memories of all time was the sound check before Metallicas set. The dude testing Lars’ drum equipment was having so much fun teasing the crowd

Quintessential Metallica (if you weren't a thrash metal fan). Departing the thrash metal scene, they turned their attention to Hard Rock (Heavy Rock etc), and boy, did they deliver on this album. Definitely their best non-thrash album and this album again helped change metal/hard rock into the 90s.

Classic. Brilliant heavy metal album

Enter Sandman, Nothing else matters… what a great album! Still love it.

Thank you album gods for listening to my plea for more metal. We got one of the best. Wasn't into Met Alicia originally..using that spelling because that's how I thought you pronounced it in 7th grade...but I sure jumped on the bandwagon here. And I'm ok with that.

Favorite Metallica album: Ride the Lightning. Most exciting album and live show: Metallica Black Album I was ride or die for Jason Newstead and the magic he brought to the band. The Black album showed their complexity and ability to be more than garage dwelling head bangers. The last great hard rock album by a classic band.

Classic metal. Nice.

9/10 This is among the first albums I owned as a kid. I don't know music without it. I don't listen to it daily anymore, but I still love it. 1-24-2025

Now this is real music right here.

Best metal album of all time!

One of my favorites and the first album I bought on tape to listen to on my walkman

Fucking awesome

Awesome album. Loved it. Made kaitlyn listen to it

Wow - a Milestone

one of the best metal albums

Solid.

after so many years of listening to rock radio in the car with my dad I don't know how much metallica I've listened to, I love metallica tbh and enter sandman top 10 songs of history

Classic

Legend

I should have given Metallica a try before now. This album was so good. Lars’ percussion is amazing. The technical skill of all the band members is amazing.

I enjoy Metallica but not adore it. This album encompasses all of their high abilities of playing guitar great, singing great, and having great lyrics.

This album is just straight bangers. Some of their most famous songs on here. I mean "Enter Sandman" is just such a great way to open an album, such a phenomenal song. I've said it before and I'll say it again, James Hetfield is one of the greatest rhythm guitarists of all time and really shines on this album. So much of this album is done so well, the instrumentation fits so well with the lyrics and the feel. Phenomenal album with riffs that hit concrete hard.

Quintessential metal album. My introduction to metal and a big bonding album between me and my father

Rips

Absolutely brilliant album

10/10 forever

Sick

Legendary classic! This one is awesome top to bottom, and has got some great singles. One of my all time favorites.

It's THE metallica album, I've heard it before, of course shit slaps

Super

I used to play this one a lot back when. I didn't listen to it when it came up because I have overplayed it. It's nice now and then for a song on the radio, but I don't know that I could sit through another Metallica album. I used to be their top fan... and went to this concert actually. :P

I owned that one back then. It's much slower and less aggressive than their older releases, but still undeniably Metallica. There are many great and classic Metallica hits, but the rest are also excellent.

Favourite songs: Of Wolf and Man, Holier Than Thou, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam, Through the Never, The Unforgiven, The God That Failed Least favourite songs: none 5/5

One of the nice things about this list is that it isn't ranked; it's just a bunch of albums that have been deemed influential or noteworthy or whatever. While I have some quibbles about what is and isn't on the list, at least I can't argue with the ranking of any particular album. Another nice thing about this project is the Wikipedia blurbs on here, which tell you that according to Rolling Stone, this album is only the 235th best album of all time which, quite frankly, is bullshit. Yet another nice thing about this project is it helps me appreciate the fact that I'm not a professional music critic, which allows me to maintain sane opinions on music. Yeah, I'm not going to give you detailed descriptions of why certain songs are great, and I don't have every album ever made as a comparison point in my mental catalog...but I can very easily tell you that this album fucking rocks. 235th? Get outta here. I know Metallica is not for everyone and we all spent a few years shitting on Lars for the crime of wanting to get paid for a living, but this album is unassailably great. 5.0

This is certainly not the Metallica of the previous four albums of fast and furious thrash metal. This is certainly a more hard rock effort, but it's the perfect blend. It's not quite heavy enough for people who hate heavy metal to dislike it, but it's just heavy enough for metalheads to enjoy. It's a head banger of an album. Lars Ulrich’s drums sound like artillery and machine gun fire, James Hetfield sounding fantastic as usual. I've always loved his vocals. Every riff is good, every solo is good. The singles are brilliant. 'Enter Sandman' and 'Nothing Else Matters' being the most popular and for good reason. They are a solid hard rock song and a really nice ballad respectively. 'Sad But True' and 'The Unforgiven' are slow and plodding but in the best way possible. I have to say though, there are a couple of tracks that could have also been chosen as singles and they would have been up there with Metallica's most played. 'The Struggle Within' is very catchy with a great solo and 'Don't Tread On Me' is a heavy one that chugs along really nicely and probably has the catchiest chorus on the whole album. People say Metallica sold out with this album. In my opinion, if you stick with your signature sound, people will call you stale and you write the same song over and over (Motörhead, AC/DC, Slayer) but if you try and change your sound a bit people will call you a sell out, so you can't win either way. You write what you are feeling at the time and this is what came out, and I for one think it's a brilliant album, thrash metal or not.

Enjoyable.

Absolute classic in the hard rock genre. Great songs in enter sandman and the unforgiven

By pure coincidence I had "... And Justice for All" two days ago. Two very different Metallica albums but I liked them both a lot. The "Black Album" is less speed/trash and more accessible, with even a metal ballad (of which I'm not usually a fan, but Nothing Else Matters is good). Lots of stonkers/classics on this album. And unlike "... And justice for all", this album is beautifully produced, it sounds great at all volumes with a solid rhythm section and powerful but not shrill guitars. Stunning album.

Fucking amazing 🤘🤘🤘

Metallica - Metallica (1991) I wonder if there is a method to the madness of musicians when it comes to deciding where and when they will simply do their self-titled album? Is it an unmistakable mission statement of the band and its style? Does it come later on in a career when a group wants to return to its roots? When you want to make a cheeky Beatles reference? Or do you save it for a rainy day when you can't be stuffed thinking of a cool name for your album? Coming out of listening to this, I wasn't any closer to understanding the answer to the previous question. But I certainly had a good time with what I heard. I'm not really a Metallica fan, I hadn't grown up with them. My exposure to them was usually through their big hits, as well as pop culture and cultural osmosis. While some of the tried old bits about them being bland or safe metal felt a bit appropriate at times while listening to this. I don't think I can really diss an album where the most negative feeling I had coming out of one of its songs was 'eh, that was kinda good'. There are some really awesome tracks on here, with all of my highlights having some segments (particularly with the guitars) that I just loved. If I had any real negatives to say it would be that my least favourite song was also the closing song of the album. Not exactly the best to wrap up with in my opinion but at least I can always just ignore it on repeated listens. I also can't hold that against the rest of the albums quality. Highlights: The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The God That Failed

Personally I like their earlier work. The later work doesn’t have the same grit. This album is considered the midpoint for me. I can’t deny the greatness of it but it represents a more mainstream version of the previous music from them. Still 5 stars tho.

Definitely a 'have to hear'. Even if you don't like all the songs, deserves a 5 for production/sound.

One of the besrt albums!

The heady days of 1991 when grunge had become a thing in the public consciousness with 'Nevernind', so what does the masters of metal do? Go commercial! Just to put it out there, I hated metal, it's culture, it's clothes, all of it at the time. So what did I make of Metal lite? Its very good, listenable, tuneful, with a bite. I hate that odd metal vocal thing they all do, but apart from that it's a low 5. Yes I'm giving a Metallica album a 5.

Can’t have sex to it

Now THIS is metal at its finest. I haven’t listened to much metal, but Napalm Death left some pretty bad first impressions on me. But THIS is incredible! Can’t believe I’m doing this. But I’m rating this a 5. Great album.

¡VINILAZO!

Put off listening to this to re-listen to Getz/Gilberto. This is no doubt a great album, even though I'm not really in the mood for it.

The Black Album. The album that catapulted Metallica into the mainstream, but also alienated a lot of their fans due to the change in sound. I'm one of those weird people that was already a fan (I came on board with the Justice album) yet still loved this album.

The Black Album!! been a while since i got a 5 star one recently Favorite track: nothing else matters other picks: Enter Sandman, sad but true, unforgiven, whereever i may roam

Epic album! What an opening as well with Enter Sandman! The heaviness of the drums and the guitar riff. 100% platinum headbang material. And the guitar solos... damn... flawless.

Tämä on musiikkia ihmisten kuunneltavaksi samalla kun haaveilee 500 kilon penkkipunnistelusta, pelin voittavasta touchdownista, Eiffel-korkeasta Pamela Andersonista ja pommituksesta (kuulostaako "Lars Ulrich" epäilyttävän eurooppalaiselta eli kommilta?). Mutta sitten he avaavat silmänsä ja huomaavat murskaneensa perheen ämpärin KFC:tä ja murskaneensa 12 pakkauksen vaaleaa olutta huutaen televisiolle ja käskemällä lihavaa vaimoaan yrittää näyttää kauniilta silloin tällöin. Jos Flavortownilla olisi soundtrack, se olisi tämä albumi. Vuohenparkin polttoaineena pommi-piste-com-räjähdys tukahdutettua seksuaalisuutta. Valot sammuvat herkullisesti. heh. lihava vaimo heh. minun ''favorite genre'' osioon kuuluu: indie, punk sekä pop. tämä henkilö on ainutlaatuinen yksilö jolla vähän oudompi musiikkimaku heh... my friend of misery

I don't care if this album *partly* abandoned the speed metal / thrash metal style found on all previous Metallica LPs. It's true that if you really love that particular genre, the handful of songs that follow that old template here are not as good as the ones included in *Master Of Puppets* or *Ride The Lightning*. The thrash metal stuff is only here to energize the tracklist. It's with the slower cuts -- both *each and *every* heavier number and *each and every* ballad that this record made a lasting impact. To be more specific, if only for *Sad But True*, *The Unforgiven* and *Nothing Else Matters*, this album should be in the list. And then you have the absolutely *iconic* opener, "Enter Sandman", whose main riff is up there with Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" in the podium of the most significant heavy riffs of all time. Under that light it doesn't really matter if the last two songs of this admittedly lengthy album are a bit of a letdown--thereby preventing me from giving it a perfect grade. The Black Album could have ended right before that, with the confessional, yet also angular and tough "The God That Failed" (pretty moving if you know Kirk's very personal source of inspiration here), and still manage to be equally impactful. Besides, Bob Rock's shrewd and glossy production, along with Metallica's more streamlined and adequate music writing, quickly managed to erase the tragic memory of *And Justice For Jason Newsted*, er, excuse me, *...For All*, from most fans of good music -- except from a subset of die-hard fans of the very bizarre genre that "progressive metal" is. Won't listen to a metal album where the bass is indiscernible, that's for sure. Here, for this album, every instrument, and each instrumental touch, slaps as they should, at least .. I've used the word "impact" or "impactful" on two occasions in my paragraphs up there, and this shouldn't hide the fact that this historical record also marked the start of a downward slope in the band's trajectory, very ironically. Embracing your full commercial potential is sometimes a dead end on an artistic level. Yet the Black Album's influence should never be underestimated. Without the melodicism of "The Unforgiven", or Kirk Hammett's stellar vocal performance on "Sad But True" (maybe heavily edited by Bob Rock?), you wouldn't have System Of A Down a decade later, for instance. But I guess that's a story for another time, kiddies! 4/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. To which, exceptionally, I will add 0.5 points for "Enter Sandman"'s iconic riff. And as usual, I will round up my 4.5 grade to 5 9/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4) Number of albums left to review: 11 (plus the 80-ish extra LPs listed on this app, included because different past versions of the book have mentioned albums that have since been dropped in subsequent editions) Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 426 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 254 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 313

5, няма какво

Absolute classic!

My review cannot be about this album, since it is one of my main reasons for loving metal in general. Metallica opened their music up to the public and asked artists from around the world to remake and revamp the songs from this album. This type of across the world collaboration and inspiration is mind bogling to me and the true gift of music and creativity in general. Not only is the blacklist, the title of the compilation of the remakes, but the metallica original album one of my top tier albums of all time

Amazing, this is the album that made me start my journey into metal. It will be forever in my heart

Classic Metallica album

One of the best metal albums ever

So raw and yet so simple. Love it

heavy

Absolutely fantastic album

Iconic. Legendary. Timeless. Black.

Obviously the hits are the hits for a reason... This album just sounds so unbelievably good. Pretty much every song is a banger, and the production sounds so god damn good, even now. Such a great album.

Pure gold, 5 stars

I got so amped when this came up as the pick. I played my CD of this album so many times as a kid. So once I got home from an errand, I put it on full blast… Sorry neighbors. Album still rocks out and I was singing along as loudly as possible to many tracks. This album was peak Metallica for me personally, and nothing after was as good as this, or what they did prior.

**Metallica (The Black Album) - An In-Depth Review** Released on August 12, 1991, *Metallica*, commonly referred to as *The Black Album*, marked a significant departure from the band's thrash metal roots, opting for a more mainstream, polished sound. With the production led by Bob Rock, the album aimed for mass appeal without compromising Metallica's intensity. This review dives into the lyrical content, musical composition, production quality, overarching themes, and the influence of *The Black Album*, alongside the pros and cons that shaped its legacy. ### Lyrics The lyrics in *The Black Album* reveal a shift toward more personal, introspective themes compared to the band's earlier albums, which often centered around war, politics, and existential dread. Here, James Hetfield explores themes like inner turmoil, personal struggles, and human emotion. For instance: - "Enter Sandman" dives into the world of nightmares and the fear of the unknown, conveying a sense of childhood vulnerability. Its lyrics, “Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight,” evoke a universal anxiety about the monsters that lurk in the dark. - "The Unforgiven" is more personal and introspective, tackling themes of alienation and a longing for redemption. It reflects Hetfield's struggles with his upbringing and societal expectations. - "Nothing Else Matters" breaks from Metallica's earlier material by embracing vulnerability, with Hetfield singing about love and devotion—emotions largely absent in thrash metal’s aggressive lyrical landscape. The song’s honest approach to the subject matter made it one of the most relatable tracks for a broader audience. - "Sad but True" addresses self-destructive behavior and the internal struggle of facing one's darker side, with lyrics like "I'm your hate when you want love" articulating the duality within us all. Overall, the album's lyrics stray from the fantasy and politically charged topics seen in previous Metallica albums, instead focusing on relatable human experiences and emotions, which resonated with a wider audience. ### Music The music in *The Black Album* is defined by a departure from the fast-paced, intricate riffing synonymous with thrash metal, in favor of a slower, heavier, and more accessible approach. Each song is characterized by a tighter song structure with a strong focus on groove and melody: - **Riffs and Song Structures**: The album is dominated by mid-tempo, groove-laden riffs rather than breakneck speed. "Sad but True" and "Holier Than Thou" showcase simplified yet powerful guitar work, marked by punchy rhythms and thick, down-tuned tones. While these changes alienated some thrash metal purists, they also expanded the band's appeal. - **Solos and Lead Guitar Work**: Kirk Hammett's solos remain technically impressive but are more restrained than on previous records. The solos on tracks like "Enter Sandman" and "The Unforgiven" are memorable, focusing on serving the song rather than showing off virtuosity. - **Drumming and Rhythm Section**: Lars Ulrich’s drumming adopts a more controlled approach, utilizing simpler patterns that complement the slower tempos. His playing on tracks such as "Wherever I May Roam" emphasizes groove over technicality, making the songs more rhythmically engaging for a mainstream audience. - **Bass Lines**: With Jason Newsted on bass, the album retains a full and heavy bottom end, though it is often overshadowed by the dominant guitar work and vocal arrangements. The bass plays a supporting role, laying down a solid foundation without taking the spotlight. - **Vocals**: Hetfield’s vocal performance is one of the album's strongest features, with a shift toward a cleaner, more melodic approach. His ability to blend aggression with melody gives songs like "Nothing Else Matters" an emotional weight that would have been hard to achieve with his previous vocal style. ### Production Bob Rock’s influence on the album's production is evident in the polished, radio-friendly sound. The production stands out due to: - **Clean and Polished Sound**: Unlike previous Metallica albums, which had a raw and unpolished feel, *The Black Album* features a cleaner, more refined production. Each instrument is given its own space in the mix, allowing for a well-balanced sound where every element can be distinctly heard. - **Guitar Tone**: The guitars are thick and powerful, contributing to the album's heavy yet accessible sound. The tone is more down-tuned and crunchier than on *...And Justice for All*, which had a more trebly and dry sound. - **Drum Sound**: Lars Ulrich's drums are one of the most prominent aspects of the production, with a deep snare and thunderous toms. The drum sound, while crisp, is criticized by some for being too polished and lacking the organic feel found in earlier albums. - **Layering and Effects**: The use of layering and effects, such as reverb and delay, adds depth to tracks like "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Unforgiven." Bob Rock's background in working with more mainstream rock acts influenced the decision to add these production elements, which contributed to the album's mass appeal. ### Themes The central themes in *The Black Album* revolve around inner conflict, fear, and personal experiences rather than the external political and societal concerns that had previously driven the band's songwriting. The album explores a range of human emotions, such as: - **Fear and Anxiety**: "Enter Sandman" addresses primal fears, drawing on the theme of nightmares and the loss of innocence. The eerie, hypnotic riff adds to the song's unsettling vibe. - **Alienation and Redemption**: Songs like "The Unforgiven" touch on themes of being misunderstood, growing up with rigid expectations, and the search for forgiveness. The song's balladic structure and emotive lyrics make it a standout track for its thematic depth. - **Self-Reflection and Struggle**: "Sad but True" delves into the darker side of the human psyche, exploring the struggle with one's own inner demons. This theme of internal conflict recurs throughout the album. - **Love and Vulnerability**: The ballad "Nothing Else Matters" defies heavy metal conventions by openly addressing love and emotional honesty. It serves as a unique inclusion in the band's catalog, broadening the scope of lyrical themes typically associated with metal. ### Influence *The Black Album* had a profound impact on the music industry and metal genre, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Its influence can be seen in various ways: - **Mainstream Success**: The album's polished production and simplified song structures allowed Metallica to achieve unprecedented mainstream success. It introduced a broader audience to heavy metal, helping to break down genre barriers and establish metal as a commercially viable music style. - **Impact on Metal Subgenres**: The success of *The Black Album* led other bands to explore similar approaches, resulting in the emergence of subgenres like groove metal, which emphasized slower tempos and rhythmic groove over speed and technicality. - **Commercialization of Metal**: While *The Black Album* made metal more accessible, it also set a precedent for commercialization, leading some critics to argue that it marked the beginning of the genre's dilution. This shift sparked debates about "selling out" and the balance between artistic integrity and mainstream success. - **Influence on Other Bands**: Bands across multiple genres, from alternative metal to grunge, were influenced by the album’s production values and song structure. It became a template for how heavier music could achieve mass appeal without sacrificing intensity. ### Pros and Cons **Pros**: 1. **Broader Appeal**: *The Black Album* expanded Metallica’s audience by incorporating elements that appealed to mainstream rock listeners without entirely abandoning the band's heavy roots. This accessibility made it one of the best-selling albums in metal history. 2. **Memorable Songs**: Tracks like "Enter Sandman," "The Unforgiven," and "Nothing Else Matters" are among Metallica's most iconic. Their strong melodies and accessible structures helped cement the band's legacy. 3. **High Production Quality**: Bob Rock’s production brought a polished, clean sound that highlighted each instrument, making the music feel full and powerful. The depth and clarity allowed the band's sonic heaviness to reach a broader audience. 4. **Lyrical Depth**: The album's lyrics delve into personal themes and struggles, marking a departure from the politically charged and abstract topics of previous records. This personal touch resonated with many fans. 5. **Evolution and Experimentation**: The album demonstrated Metallica's willingness to evolve, setting the stage for later explorations in their career. **Cons**: 1. **Simplification of Songwriting**: The transition to simpler, more accessible structures disappointed some long-time fans who preferred the complexity and aggression of the band's earlier work. The songs are generally shorter and less intricate, sacrificing some of the technical musicianship. 2. **Overproduction**: Critics argue that the production is overly polished, losing the raw energy and organic feel that characterized Metallica's earlier albums. The clean production made the band sound more like a mainstream rock act, rather than a metal band. 3. **Drum Sound**: Lars Ulrich's drum tone has been critiqued for being too prominent and synthetic-sounding, with the snare in particular lacking the punch and rawness heard on albums like *Master of Puppets*. 4. **Commercialization Accusations**: Some fans and critics view *The Black Album* as a "sellout" moment, prioritizing mainstream success over the band's thrash metal roots. This accusation has lingered in discussions about the album's legacy. 5. **Inconsistent Track Quality**: While the album contains several standout tracks, others are viewed as filler. Songs like "Don't Tread on Me" and "The Struggle Within" are often cited as less memorable, not living up to the quality of the album's strongest moments. ### Conclusion *Metallica (The Black Album)* is a landmark album that redefined heavy metal's relationship with the mainstream, for better or worse. Its polished production, accessible song structures, and introspective lyrics allowed Metallica to reach new heights of commercial success, while also alienating some of their original fanbase. The album's impact on the music industry and its influence on the evolution of metal cannot be overstated. While it is not without its flaws, the album remains a pivotal moment in Metallica's career, balancing artistic risk with mainstream appeal. It serves as a testament to the band's ability to adapt and redefine itself, ensuring its place in the annals of music history.

As a metal head when this was released, found it a little too main stream at the time. Now with a little age and a greater appreciation of the finer things in life can honestly say this album is brilliant. It’s still heavy enough to offer yet rocky enough to encourage others into the metal fold.

Rating: 9.5/10 Metallica went "mainstream" and made an album most bands can only dream of making. Incredible production, fantastic guitar riffs and solos, and James Hetfield's best vocal performance up to that point. The Struggle Within prevents this from being a full 10/10 though. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: The Struggle Within.

I've listened to this album so much in my life I know every note. An all time classic where every song is perfect. I don't need to listen to this one again, so I'm going to the Deluxe Box Set to listen to the Day on the Green and Arco Arena shows. Two shows a much younger me attended and both were phenomenal concert experiences. Side note, there's a lot of pearl clutching in the comments. "Boredom sets into the boring mind" I'm looking at you 1 star reviewers.

This blockbuster was impossible to ignore when it came out, even with all the grunge, and it still sounds great 33(!) years later.

4.5

# Album Name: Metallica (black album) # Artist: Metallica # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: For me, this is pinnacle metallica. An absolutely great album from them. The first 10 tracks are very good with several great tunes in there. # Top Tunes: Enter sandman / sad but true / nothing else matters / unforgiven # Would I listen to it again? hell yeah.

Forgot how hard this album rocks

Love it

This is a classic.

Heavy Heavy Heavy. This is perfect when you are in the mood for it. Starts so raging, and I want to punch a wall, then it takes a well-needed break. The unforgiven is just such a nice change of pace in the best way. Wherever I May Roam is the highlight, the sitar just takes over, and it just bleeds its influences and is unique like nothing I have heard. This album literally feels like roaming through the desert, looking for water, slowly searching for the truth and the vocals are so scrappy yet calculated.

Big change in sound, but oh what a classic!

Solid album. Yes, it was a huge direction change from ...and Justice for all. Diehard fans were angry because this isn't metal. It's slower, more rock, and some of the rhythms even swing a bit. But, it opened them up to an entirely new audience that were able to digest it more easily than previous albums. I think it's their 5th best album, with the four before it claiming the top 1-4 in their discography. But, those first four are masterworks, and for my money, this is the only other Metallica album that's a must have.

🪨

Album 519 of 1001 Metallica - Metallica (1991) Rating : 4.5 / 5 Great album. Some excellent tracks. Awesome debut.

I really don't get why some Metallica die hards hate this album so much. This is heavy as fuck and Metallica is as good as ever here, if not as fast. Lars is underrated as a drummer and contributor to the band. His fill selection is great and a little odd. Still not sure if I like this or Master of Puppets more but it's real close

If this were just a little worse, I would hate it. But as it is, this is amazing. What Metallica’s (many) imitators don’t get is that these are actual songs, with actual music and actual singing. I think I’m a legit Metallica fan. Who knew?

Great album- listened to it a ton in my day

One of the best and most influential metal albums of all time. This baby holds up really well. 4.6 stars

Just a great album start to finish

Ride the lightning better pero sad but true y the unforgiven vale como por 3 puntos, 9/10.

Really good album, I am honestly flabbergasted that I had never listened to this masterpiece before, it’s honestly so good, this made me love metal even more, love Metallica. 9.7/10.

Metallica at their most accessible. An instant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‼ I own this album for years and it still bangs like at first time. 🤘 The album is packed with Metallicas all-time classics. And none of these songs sounds aged. One hour of excellent power-metal!

All time classic I grew up on

I'm not sure we're ever going to see another one like em. Masterclass of an album.

Every Metallica album will forever get a 5 from this guy

It brought metal into the mainstream, and for good reason. Great songwriting and music, riffs and hooks!!

9/10

Bangers

As a girl who loves post-black album Metallica as much as pre-black album Metallica, I will die on a hill for this record. Also I love winding up men about this album, it's only fair since they give me their unsolicited opinions. There are no skippable tracks, all perfect (some are just more perfect than others, love u lots of wolf and man, wish they made a twilight werewolf spinoff just so they could have used u for the trailer). Faves: - <3 <3 of wolf and man <3 <3 - <3 sad but true <3 - holier than thou - wherever i may roam - the unforgiven

Thrash dudes love to trash this classic metal album’s perceived lack of heaviness, as if they haven’t lovingly memorized every iconic riff, solo, and shitty Lars fill top to bottom.

To me, this is the last of Metallica's classic period. I'm sure there's quite a few diehard metal heads who would love to debate me on that (among other topics, like if Metallica even had a classic period to begin with)—but look. This thing is full to the brim of amazing songs. And not just the singles, although let's not forget how incredible "Nothing Else Matters" is for being a 3/4 love ballad from Metallica of all bands. I'm talkin' the deeper cuts as well: "Holier Than Thou", "Don't Tread On Me", "Through The Never", "The God That Failed"... This is consistency up there with MASTER OF PUPPETS, you ask me. Sure, it's a more traditional "heavy metal" sound and not as thrash as some would prefer it, but like that even really matters. I doubt it'd bug most people while "Wherever I May Roam" is playing. Even the over-played stuff, too: they're played as much as they are for a **reason**, after all. So, big surprise, Metallica gets a second 5 from me. And if you ever have the time, check out Wax Audio's mashup of "Sad But True" and "Superstitious"; it's really good.

The album that made Metallica a household name also happens to be a kickass album when you go beyond the big songs of Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters. Easy 5.

That’s an easy 5. I am completely exhausted after listening to that – what a whirlwind 62 minutes of pure energy. That’s my first proper Metallica album, outside of the live one we got a while back, and I am nothing short of stunned. Apparently, this is a more commercially friendly sound, but I kinda don’t care; I thought all 12 tracks here were fucking great. James Hetfield’s screams somehow sound melodic, but when he actually sings, he somehow manages to glide pretty damn well on these tracks. These have some of the most heavy percussion and ridiculous guitar solos that I’ve ever heard – trust me, I’ve heard a lot of insane solos on some of the other albums, and the ones on this album stack up with the very best of them here. I don’t really have the energy left to gush on and on about this, but I just know that it is one of the most satisfying 5s I get to give yet. I’m so glad this album wasn’t just Enter Sandman and a bunch of mediocrity. What a fucking stunner of an album. 10/10, at least to me.

First album I bought with my own money 🤘

The nostalgia hits pretty hard when relistening to The Black Album. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

should've been Lars

This is either a 5* or a 1*. You love it or hate it. I don't understand the 2* reviews. This is Metallica at their strongest. They could have retired with "Enter Sandman", but they blast through this album. It's a classic.

An all timer. A really masterful turn by a band trying new and interesting things, and managing to keep their familiarity at the same time (something they would more (St. Anger) or less (Load and Reload) fail at for their next 3 albums. Opened the flood gates for a wider audience to get into heavy music without the gatekeeping or high barrier to entry of most metal. Launched the superstardom of one of the best touring acts in history. Full of hits. Culturally relevant. Also provides (via the making-of documentary) the first glimpses into what a bunch of turds those guys can be.

Eu já ouvi mais metal quando era mais novo e achava impressionante, mas hoje, com mais maturidade, posso afirmar: Metal é paia. O Metallica tem um grande papel no meu gosto musical porque foi por causa deles que comecei a gostar de metal. A primeira vez que eu ouvi Enter Sandman de verdade, de pensar "que música foda", foi vendo alguém tocando essa música no Rock Band. Isso, por si, é paia. Mas ver os instrumentos decupados naquelas fileiras com tracinhos coloridos me fez entender como a música ia crescendo até começar de fato. O riff de guitarra quase sem distorção começando sozinho, cercado de silêncio; a bateria com os tons e surdo entrando junto com o baixo, dando corpo à música; a guitarra rítmica na sequência tocando com power chords um riff que lentamente ganha um pouco mais de complexidade; até, enfim, estourar com a entrada dos pratos da bateria. Poder visualizar isso através de um videogame que me fez parar pra ouvir a música mesmo e aprecia-la. Enter Sandman é a música que abre - em grande estilo - esse álbum. Por esse motivo, é um álbum que já ouvi muito, mas que à algum tempo não havia parado para escutá-lo de novo. Achei que minha impressão, agora que metal já não elenca meus gêneros musicais favoritos, seria de acha-lo fraco, datado, brega, música de "homem querendo parecer mais homem". Em resumo, achei que minha impressão seria de achar paia. Ao contrário disso foi uma experiência muito foda poder ouvi-lo com uma cabeça mais madura e entender melhor as composições e a conexão entra as músicas. É um álbum energético com momentos melancólicos, bem produzido, e instrumentalmente muito cativante. Com certeza mais comercial que os anteriores, mas o suficiente para ser acessível sem perder a essência do gênero. O Black Album não só é um álbum relevante para a história da música, como muito cativante e bem construído, que vale a pena ser revisitado de tempos em tempos, apesar de achar que ouvir metal é algo paia.

A flawless 90s thrash metal album. It has 3-4 of my favourite Metallica songs on it, and it's been that long since I listened to it all the way through that I'd forgotten how good the rest of it was.

I have probably heard songs from this album thousands of times. Blasting from shitty car stereos, sports stadiums and boomboxes. You have too. We all know these songs. Either you like them or you don't. I'm on the side of liking them. I like their earlier, thrasher stuff better, but this still mostly kicks ass. It's hard to imagine this album NOT existing, so maybe that does mean it's essential?

Fly, of course.

yet another heavy metal hall-of-famer. come on now, the album literally opens with enter sandman. despite what a newcomer may think this album isn't all loud and fast and crazy, with quite a few tracks slower and emotional. nevertheless there's no overstating how wickedly amazing these shreds are. metallica is... metal.

I almost lost my friend to the Metallica tribute mosh pit

Thrash has been completely abandoned on this album for a generic heavy rock sound. Still a great album, but things predictably went off the rails for Metallica in subsequent releases.

probably my favorite Metallica album

The gate that opened Metallica’s world to me. More structured than its predecessors, with a more likable sound, it’s a perfect album for me. The song lyrics, riffs, gigantic drumming and solos… did entertain me for quite a while back in the day. My special song is Wherever I may roam, followed by Of Wolf and Man and The God that failed.

Amazing album. Pretty much every song is great. Will listen to over again

One of the best!

The GOAT

This is gonna be a tough one to be unbiased about. I loved this album as a kid and listened to enter sandman and unforgiven endless times in my formative years. As an adult, I think it still holds up and strikes a good balance between the thrashier stuff Metallica is became known for and the lame alt stuff they would (rightfully) be reviled for later on by slowing things down while still being energetic and interesting. I get that a lot of purists consider this their “sellout” album which is probably fair but if the music is good who cares. And the music fucking slaps. Sure there are some repetitive song structures here and there but it never stops being fun to listen to. Along with the two I already mentioned, nothing else matters, wherever I may roam, and holier than thou are also my favs. Hardcore metal heads can hate on this all they want but even for all its faults I think it’s a great time.

Ik ben geen \m/ metal \m/ persoon (nu-metal telt niet) en Metallica vind ik echt een stuk minder cool dan hun fans denken. De eerste review op deze site vat het bijzonder treffend samen. Desondanks is dit album natuurlijk gewoon een terechte entry op deze lijst. Als je anders beweert laat je jezelf redelijk kennen, en zet je jezelf eigenlijk een beetje buitenspel. Binnenkomen Zandman, Verdrietig Maar Waar, De Onvergevenen, Waar Dan Ook Ik Mag Zwerven en Niets Anders Is Van Belang zijn voor mij genoeg redenen om zonder schaamte op de vijf sterren te kunnen drukken. Dat er met de andere nummers ook niet zo heel veel mis is, is alleen maar een bonus. Zo'n Nothing Else Matters kennen zelfs alle oppas-oma's inmiddels van buiten en heb ik lange tijd een wat overrated nummer gevonden. Maar als je er echt voor gaat zitten hoor je pas echt hoe ontzettend veel laagjes er stiekem gebruikt worden. Geniaal.

4.8. What can you say great album.

Classic heavy metal

One of the greatest rock albums of all time. After the dodgily produced ‘And Justice…’ album, Metallica needed a big hitter and they don’t come much bigger than this. I remember being at university, buying the cd single for ‘Enter Sandman’ and having my mind blown! (I’ve got a feeling that the ‘B’ side was ‘So What?’ - a punk romp through expletives. Love it!) And Sandman was played at full volume across the campus!! When the album came out, it was even more mind-blowing. It cemented even more my fanatical devotion to heavy rock. Brilliant.

An absolute classic still remember queuing outside tower records at midnight to buy it. They’ve descended into farce now but this was Metallica at their prime

Every track has a great hook. For that reason, it's fun, easy listening metal. Great for pumping up while lifting weights or running sprints on interval days. I will give them some credit for helping me get strong. For that reason, five stars 😉

This was like my first album and I've listened to this thing a billion times. Enter Sandman's intro is permanently ingrained in my brain. That Hollywood style slow build, the floor tom sound. Metallica grabbed the world by the throat with this album with a more honed production that focused more on a vocal forward approach. The songs were constructed to be more than just shredding. They were meant to evoke something in the listeners. Which they succeeded at. Holier Than Thou was always a sleeper track for me.

great, great metal. love the riffs, the voice, the lyrics, the energy. but not that varied, that's why it isn't quite perfect.

Classic

It is what it is. And what it is, is chock full of slaps

Not a metal fan but this transcends.

A classic. More accessible than their earlier stuff, but still heavy and full of great riffs.

Another CD that had its dust removed today. It was great to remember this album that I've been listening to since I was a teenager. To this day, if I want to introduce Heavy Metal to someone who has never had contact with the genre, this is the album I recommend every time, after all, it is synonymous with this type of sound!

Thoughts before listening: Absolute stone cold classic that came out right when I was starting to pay attention to music. This was HUGE for my generation. Everyone who's parents would allow them to listen to rock music had this...which of course meant I had to listen to my friends' copies. Still though the videos were all over MTV, and even without being allowed to own this until much later, I have very early memories about Metallica and this album. Review: I know that I'm giving this 5-stars cause of its important to the rock music of my generation, but listening has been an nice reminder of just how good this really is. Opening with "Enter Sandman", this albums comes out the gate with one of the biggest rock songs of all-time. From there the hits include: "Sad But True", "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Nothing Else Matters", all of which remain highlights of the earliest days of my music interest.