Selling 15,490,000 copies, Metallica become the first hard rock act to top Nielsen SoundScan’s ‘release to date’ chart.

Their 1991 self-titled studio album “Metallica” (AKA Black) has just surpassed previously best-selling effort, Shania Twain’s “Come on Over” which has sold around 15,487,000 units to date.

We’re not sure how to approach this one. On one hand it’s great that a band like Metallica has achieved this honour. On the other it’s a disturbing reminder that millions of people have actually paid to listen to Shania Twain.

This achievement gives the band the No. 1 position on Nielsen’s “release to date” chart and makes them the first hard rock act to top the list. Previous No.1s include Whitney Houston and Alanis Morissette.

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