On August 12, 1991, “Elektra” label released the self-titled, fifth Metallica album (known as “The Black Album”). It was recorded October 1990 – June 1991, at “One on One Recording Studios” and was produced by Bob Rock, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich. The album received worldwide critical acclaim and became the band’s best selling album ever. As of November 2014, the album has spent 328 weeks on the “Billboard” album chart, making it one of the ten longest-running discs of all time. The album was certified 16× Platinum in the USA by the “RIAA”. On December 13, 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 225 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

• James Hetfield– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar; lead guitar and harmony guitar solo
• Kirk Hammett– lead guitar
• Lars Ulrich– drums, percussion
• Jason Newsted– bass guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Kamen– orchestral arrangement on “Nothing Else Matters

Track listing:

All lyrics by James Hetfield.

1. Enter Sandman – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
2. Sad but True –James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
3. Hotter Than Thou – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
4. The Unforgiven – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
5. Wherever I May Roam – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
6. Don’t Tread on Me – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
7. Through the Never – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
8. Nothing Else Matters – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
9. Of Wolf and Man – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
10. The God That Failed – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
11. My Friend of Misery – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted
12. The Struggle Within – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich