The album debuted at number one in ten countries and spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, making it Metallica's first album to top album charts. The recording of Metallica was troubled, and during production the band frequently came into conflict with their new producer Bob Rock. In 2003, the album was ranked number 255 on Rolling Stone 's 500 greatest albums of all time. Metallica promoted the album with a series of tours. The album marked a change in the band's sound from the thrash metal style of the previous four albums to a slower and heavier one rooted in heavy metal. A sixth song, 'Don't Tread on Me', was also issued to rock radio shortly after the album's release, but the song did not receive a commercial single release.
Metallica produced five singles that are considered to be among the band's best-known songs, which include 'Enter Sandman', 'The Unforgiven', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Wherever I May Roam', and 'Sad but True'. Released on Augby Elektra Records, it received widespread critical acclaim and became the band's best-selling album. Metallica (commonly known as The Black Album) is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica.
