Seeing the forest through the trees can be hard. We all fall for it. The initial dramatic reaction. We don’t factor in what the long term effect of something can be. That something is “The Black Album”. Arguably, the biggest turning point in metal music history.
First off, it’s referred to as “The Black Album” but technically it’s self titled. “Metallica” was released on August 12th, 1991. The lead single “Enter Sandman” would go on to be a staple for the band and easily their most recognized song. It would also be the song “old school” Metallica fans would hate the most. A so called sellout moment.
Metallica undoubtedly opened up their sound on “The Black Album” with slower melodic songs like “Nothing Else Matters” and “The Unforgiven”, but what were they supposed to do? Their previous albums were thrash metal powerhouses, but the sound kept them in theatres and clubs. “The Black Album” elevated them to arenas overnight. A new audience opened their pallet to metal. Something a little less intimidating. Sure, nowadays “Kill Em’ All” and “Master of Puppets” may not seem as heavy compared to modern music, but at the time, it was fringe at best. That’s right kids. There was a time when Metallica was the band you only knew if you were hip.
But after selling 31 million copies of “The Black Album” it was easy to believe the band had sold their soul to the music man. The fact of the matter is, the band still made a killer metal album with a broad sound that should be commended. Bluesy metal riffs like “My Friend Misery”. Dark songs like “The God That Failed”. They were truly brilliant and insanely timely. A slower “grind” sound just in time to take on grunge music. A sound that could take on Nirvana’s “Nevermind”, Pearl Jam’s “Ten”, and Soundgarden’s “Bad Motorfinger”. All of which were released in the following 44 days.
Other “thrash” metal bands of the time faded into the background. Metallica did anything but. Embarking on a massive tour lasting years. Teaming up with Guns n’ Roses for one of the biggest tours of all time. Keeping metal alive in a time when “Hair Metal” was fed to the dogs. Bands like Poison and Motley Crue were left in the dust. Metallica still kept pushing forward. Leading the charge. “The Black Album” is far from my personal favourite Metallica album, but without it, I’m not sure metal music would have lived through the 90’s like it did.
