Metallica's Self-Titled Masterpiece Earns Double Diamond Certification

Forbes

2 days ago

Metallica's self-titled album remains by far the band's most successful release, even decades after it first came out. The project, which transformed the hard rock favorites into global phenomenons in the early '90s, continues to sell and stream consistently, and is almost always present on a number of major charts.
Moving millions of equivalent units globally every year, the set regularly earns several new platinum plaques from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As it does, the title hits a very special milestone that only a handful of musical acts in history have reached.
The RIAA has now certified Metallica as a double diamond album. That means the collection has shifted 20 million equivalent units in America alone.
The band adds four new platinum plaques to its namesake album's already historic total. The last time the project was certified by the RIAA was back in December 2012, when it advanced from 15-times platinum to 16. The project was originally certified gold, platinum, and then triple platinum all at once on Halloween day, 1991.
Metallica is now tied with two other bestselling efforts as one of the twelfth most-certified releases in American history. It's on the same level as Dookie by Green Day and Come On Over by Shania Twain, which have both reached the incredibly impressive double diamond status.
Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 by the Eagles remains the most-certified album ever in America, as it is now up to 38 million equivalent units moved. Thriller by Michael Jackson is the only other set to pass triple diamond status, and it has been certified for moving 34 million equivalent units between pure purchases and streaming activity, which the RIAA began incorporating into its methodology several years ago. So far, only 14 titles have reached double diamond status.
As Metallica moves from 16-times platinum to 20-times platinum, the band's album Master of Puppets also earns new wins. That project advances from six-times platinum to eight-times, tying with ...And Justice for All as the group's second highest-certified studio LP.
Master of Puppets was named a gold record in November 1986 and was last certified in June 2003. That means it's been more than 20 years since the RIAA awarded it a new honor.