The band is sharing news of new RIAA certifications for its self-titled fifth album a/k/a “The Black Album” – which has been certified 20x platinum for sales in excess of 20 million copies – and, the band's third full length, “Master of Puppets”, has been certified 8x platinum having crossed the eight million mark.
The Black Album's 1991 release not only gave Metallica its first No. 1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a 4-week run at #1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles - "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Sad But True" - fueled the band's rise to stadium headlining, radio and MTV dominating household name status.
Metallica's 1986 breakthrough third LP, “Master of Puppets” has attained 8x platinum status, having sold more than eight million albums. The heaviest rock album ever to be selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," “Master of Puppets” has long been regarded as a watershed moment in the history of rock music. The album's peerless balance of sheer power and complex song craft would earn Metallica its first gold record, elevating the band to new heights of critical acclaim on the strength of enduring favorites including "Battery," "Orion" and of course the title track, speaking of which...
... "Master of Puppets" recently followed "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters" as the third Metallica song to join the billion streams club, becoming the second longest song to do so. Clocking in at 8:36, "Master..." now sits between former second longest billion streamer "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin (8:02) and reigning champion Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)."
Metallica is currently in the midst of the third year of its M72 World Tour, which has seen the band play to more than three million fans across the globe.
Pick up some Metallica at the band’s official store here.
See also:
Metallica share 1995 Devil’s Dance live video in Load reissue preview
Metallica stream Virginia performance of Enter Sandman
Metallica stream The Unforgiven from second Nashville show
Metallica announce 2026 European tour
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