Metallica

From the Source

Metallica's eponymous fifth offering, aka The Black Album, served up a goliath hit and a shift in the band's trademark sound. Released in 1991, it combined improved production with a selection of shorter, more radio- friendly tracks that are now amongst their best-known. And while some hardcore fans were turned off, many more were awakened to the band's brilliance, resulting in their first global Number One.

The Metallica album marked a sea-change for the band in more ways than one. Showcasing a simplified, less frenzied approach to song construction, it bore the influence of uber-producer Bob Rock who'd also steered the decks for the likes of The Cult and Motley Crue.

This less jam-packed approach led to shorter songs with a slower but heavier feel, including the well-loved singles 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Enter Sandman', and 'Sad But True'. What's more, its success changed everything for a band who suddenly found themselves an enormous commercial property with a Number One hit right round the world. Supported by the gargantuan Wherever We May Roam tour, the album went on to notch up staggering 15x platinum sales.