The staying power of Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album, often referred to as *The Black Album*, is nothing short of extraordinary. While songs like “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” and “Nothing Else Matters” are undeniably popular, the idea that this album has remained on the Billboard 200 for a staggering 750 weeks is almost unbelievable.
Yet, as of July 2024, that’s exactly where we are. The Black Album has reached the 750-week milestone on the Billboard 200, currently sitting at number 168. This feat makes it only the fourth album to ever achieve such longevity, joining Pink Floyd’s *The Dark Side of the Moon* (990 weeks), Bob Marley’s *Legend* (843 weeks), and Journey’s *Greatest Hits* (813 weeks).
The album hadn’t seen the Billboard 200 for a while until it made a powerful comeback in September 2021, when Metallica reissued it as part of a 30th anniversary set. This reissue even pushed the album back into the top 10 for the first time since August 1992.
According to Billboard, the rankings on the Billboard 200 are based on data compiled by Luminate, which combines traditional album sales with track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
The Black Album has been kept alive by both long-time fans and new listeners, leading to its impressive 16-times platinum certification. This sustained popularity is due not only to the singles but also to continuous radio and TV play, as well as its frequent appearances on “greatest albums of all time” lists. In fact, it remains the best-selling album in the more than 30-year history of Nielsen SoundScan.
If you’re hoping to hear some of these iconic tracks live, you can catch them at any of the remaining dates on Metallica’s M72 world tour.
