“I tried to write the heaviest thing I could think of”: From Enter Sandman to Nothing Else Matters, the stories behind every song on Metallica’s Black Album
The article marks 35 years since Metallica’s 1991 self-titled Black Album, presenting a track-by-track account of how its 12 songs helped turn the band from leading thrash metal artists into global stadium headliners.
– The Black Album reached number one in nine countries and has been certified 16 times Platinum in the United States.
– More than 30 million people are said to own the album worldwide.
– The feature explores the origins of each track, from Enter Sandman to The Struggle Within, including the band’s aim to make the music heavier and more widely accessible.
- The Black Album transformed Metallica into worldwide superstars.
- Its 12 songs remain among heavy metal’s most influential.
- The album has sold over 30 million copies.