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| Metallica | 
 enlarge | Artist: Metallica
Label: Elektra / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $3.48
You Save: $15.50 (82%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $3.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  (1227 reviews)
Sales Rank: 508
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.5
MPN: 61113
UPC: 075596111324
EAN: 0075596111324
ASIN: B000002H97
Release Date: August 12, 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Enter Sandman - Metallica, Hammett, Kirk | | • | Sad but True - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | Holier Than Thou - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | The Unforgiven - Metallica, Hammett, Kirk | | • | Wherever I May Roam - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | Don't Tread on Me - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | Through the Never - Metallica, Hammett, Kirk | | • | Nothing Else Matters - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | Of Wolf and Man - Metallica, Hammett, Kirk | | • | The God That Failed - Metallica, Hetfield, James | | • | My Friend of Misery - Metallica, Hammett, Kirk | | • | The Struggle Within - Metallica, Hetfield, James |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Japanese edition of their multi-platinum 1991 smash album that spent four consecutive weeks at #1, with the bonus track 'So What'. 13 tracks, also featuring the top 40 hits 'Enter Sandman', 'The Unforgiven' & 'Nothing Else Matters'. A Sony Records release.
Amazon.com essential recording
Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), Metallica marks the group's entrance into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures, and slower tempos overall. That said, this is an excellent album, featuring some of the best songwriting Metallica has ever done. "Enter Sandman," "Wherever I May Roam," and "God That Failed," despite being slower and more groove-oriented than the band's earlier work, feature the same heavy riffs and heavier rhythms that have always been a feature of Metallica's music. The band goes introspective with "Unforgiven," and proves that they can write a ballad with "Nothing Else Matters," which succeeds better than one might expect. Overall, this is a high-energy album despite its laid-back approach, and is in many ways superior to the previous . . . And Justice for All, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. -- Genevieve Williams
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1222 more reviews...
 Sigh November 20, 2008
It's almost twenty years after the black album came out. I was a rabid Metallica fan when this album first dropped (I was 14). At the time, I was extremely heartbroken. This was not the band that pressed the previous four albums (five counting "Garage Days"), all of which are still in my personal top ten of great heavy metal records.
I have bought those four albums several times, on LP, cassette, and CD. I bought this album once, on cassette, almost two full decades ago. This isn't one that needs replacing.
Not that it's a bad album. It's just a bad Metallica album. You went in expecting Kill Em All, Lightning, Puppets, and Justice, and instead you got "New Jersey" from Bon Jovi. Bob Rock has his cheesy fingers all over this album.
The Black Album is a snapshot of one of the biggest "departures" in recording history. Metallica were the kings of metal music, bar none, when this record dropped. No one disputed that fact (even most Slayer fans, which says a lot). No one wrote songs like Metallica did up until 1991. Then Metallica started writing songs like everybody else wrote them: Short, sweet, and saccharine. Not the real thing.
In retrospect, this album is Metallica's pivotal moment. All the albums before it are far superior. All the albums after it are inferior. The black album itself is just "okay." No masterpieces, no loathsome depths, just a lot of shallow water.
 Not a classic by any means November 15, 2008
I was 11 when this came out and I bought this and Justice at the same time. I was new to metal and I was a kid but I knew I was listening to Justice constantly while I struggled to get beyond the third track here (it was cassette.) If you liked well played thrash or any kind of music, it boggles the mind why you would want this stuff that gets boring after a few listens. Roam, Struggle, God that failed, Through the never are just filler. I loved Sandman back then, but I liked Smells like teen spirit too.
 Mainstream Metallica October 2, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Before I get into the meat of my review, I must acknowledge that this album was one of several that distanced the "hardcore" Metallica fans from the band. Many felt betrayed by the band, which they had seen as moving away from their thrasher metal roots. This is indeed true; the album is very radio-friendly. That said, the album on its own is very solid, whatever your opinion of how it compares to the band's previous work.
From the distinctive opening noted of "Enter Sandman" all the way to the end notes of "The Struggle Within," there is not a bad song on this album. Several Metallica staples, including "The Unforgiven," "Sad But True" and "Nothing Else Matters" also make appearances on the album.
I know the above-mentioned "hardcore" fans find a positive review of this album a heresy, but for many who have never sampled metal before - myself included - this acts as a gateway album for getting into Metallica. An avid fan myself now, I would have never delved into "Ride the Lightning" or "Master of Puppets" if I hadn't heard "the black album" first.
A gem, despite what some might say October 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
First off, let me say that I am not a metalhead at all. I barely know anything about the genre. But I like Metallica. And I refuse to accept the claim that this album is a sellout just because it doesn't thrash like Master of Puppets (which is a masterpiece). Sure, it doesn't, but that's an unfair reason to insult an album. It isn't as fast or hard, and it isn't as good, but it's got some of the best songs Metallica ever made.
First and most obviously is "Enter Sandman." Like many others, I was introduced to the band via that song. Granted, the year was 2006 rather than 1991 and it was off my friends' iTunes rather than the radio or MTV. But my first exposure to the band was through that song's ominous, crawling riff. It's a great song, too. That riff is classic stuff. It was one of the album's five major hits, and I'm unashamed to say I love all five of them. This means not only "Sandman," "Sad But True" (which probably has the best riff on the whole record), and the Eastern-informed "Wherever I May Roam," but also both "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters." There go all my credentials. "The Unforgiven" is a classic power ballad, maybe not as good as "Fade to Black" or "Sanitarium" but still a fine, deeply emotional piece of work. And "Nothing Else Matters" is probably the most melodic track in the group's history.
Those are the big highlights, along with the groove-metal monsters "God That Failed" and "My Friend of Misery." But I enjoy just about every song on this album, other than the rather lame closer "Struggle Within." I guess the thrash songs are a bit generic compared to previous albums, other than "Holier Than Thou" (another good song), but I think "Through the Never" and the underrated "Of Wolf and Man" are worthy songs. Even the jingoistic, rather hypocritical "For Whom the Bell Tolls" rewrite "Don't Tread on Me" (interesting how a band who took a decidedly anti-government stance is now firmly endorsing the gulf war) is solid enough. After all, it's got the same riff as "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and THAT is a guitar riff. Even if it's recycled.
This album really doesn't deserve the bad rap it gets with some fans. I think it's an example of the group branching out, rather than selling out. And it's good! One of the classics of the '90s.
One of their best albums ever! September 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a Metallica fan since the late 80s and the black album IMO is one of the best they have released. Enough said as most of the praise, positive comment and feedbacks have already been mentioned on this comments section so I suggest you start reading others comments.
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