Metallica’s legendary “Black Album” turns 25

25 years ago today, Metallica released its self-titled fifth album, the now legendary “Black Album.”

In 1989, the legendary metal band gained mainstream notoriety with the release of its fourth studio album: “And Justice For All.” The music video for the single “One” garnered heavy rotation on MTV and helped the band gain a mainstream following.

When Metallica released the Black Album in 1991, it not only cemented its status as the biggest Metal band in the world, but as one of the biggest music acts in the industry.

“I don’t remember listening to a lot of Metallica before the Black Album came out,” ABC-7 Producer Fernie Ortiz said, “It was monumental.”

The Black Album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and is the best selling album of the “Soundscan Era,” according to Billboard. Soundscan allowed the music industry to track record sales with bar codes attached to albums, CD’s and cassettes.

The album went on to sell 16 million copies in the United States, according to Recording Industry Association of America. It currently ranks at #21 on the list of the best selling albums of all time, according to the RIAA.

Metallica’s magnum opus pawned five hit singles, many of which are still in heavy rotation today: Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters.

The music video for Enter Sandman has been viewed nearly 97-million times on YouTube

Metallica has sold more than 62 million albums in the U.S., more than artists like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and U2, according to the RIAA.

The Bay Area-based band, which is reportedly getting ready to release its first album since 2008’s “Death Magnetic,” will live-stream its Minneapolis concert on August 20. It will be the first rock concert at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings.

The concert will stream on the Pandora website within the U.S. and on LiveMetallica.com outside the U.S.