Metallica’s ‘Black Album’ Goes 20x Platinum, ‘Master of Puppets’ Reaches 8x Platinum in Historic Milestone
Metallica is once again proving their metal dominance.
Two of the band’s most legendary albums have received new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): their 1991 self-titled Black Album is now 20x platinum, and 1986’s Master of Puppets has reached 8x platinum status.
The Black Album – A Cultural Earthquake
Released in 1991, The Black Album marked Metallica’s transition from underground thrash gods to global arena titans. Propelled by the chart-crushing singles “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Sad But True,” and “Wherever I May Roam,” the album became the best-selling LP of the Luminate era, spanning over 30 years across all genres.
It debuted at No. 1 in 10 countries, spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200, and continues to resonate with new generations. It also returned to the Billboard Top 10 in 2021 thanks to a 30th-anniversary reissue, three decades after its original release.
Produced by Bob Rock (in a notoriously grueling studio experience), the album became Metallica’s sonic cornerstone and a gateway into heavy music for millions.
Master of Puppets – A Monument to Metal
Metallica’s 1986 masterpiece Master of Puppets is now 8x platinum and continues to grow in influence. Widely regarded as one of the greatest metal albums of all time, the record was the last to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who tragically died later that year in a bus accident.
The album’s title track recently crossed 1 billion streams, making it the second-longest track to do so after Taylor Swift’s 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” It joins “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters” in Metallica’s billion-stream club.
“Master of Puppets” experienced a pop-culture revival after being featured in Stranger Things Season 4, when the character Eddie Munson performed the song in the Upside Down in one of the series’ most iconic moments. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s son Tye even contributed guitar parts to the version used in the show.
The album is so iconic that it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The M72 World Tour Rolls On
Metallica is currently in the third year of their M72 World Tour, which has shattered attendance records across Los Angeles, Syracuse, and even caused seismic activity in Blacksburg, Virginia during a sold-out show at Lane Stadium.
With over three million fans attending worldwide and new records still being broken, Metallica’s legacy isn’t just alive — it’s louder than ever.
