Produced by Dave Sitek, it was released on March 1, 2019, through Crush Music and Atlantic Records,[4] nearly two months after The Teal Album.

[7][8][9] On October 11, the first single from the album, "Can't Knock the Hustle", was released.

[17] Robert Oliver at Drowned in Sound gave the album a favorable review, stating "This is a unique addition to Weezer’s discography that sees them preparing for the future, however bleak and overwhelming it might seem.

"[26] Aaron Mook also reacted positively, writing "The Black Album feels surprisingly genuine for the aging pop-rockers, brimming with new sounds, bold production choices from TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, and most importantly, honest reflection on how the world has turned and left the band following their return to relevancy.

"[27] However, Lindsay Teske from Consequence of Sound noted that the album is "not completely void of redeeming qualities", but also opined that "While it is absolutely no crime for a band to flirt with sonic experimentation, a disastrous affair can brew when the flirtation results in a body of work that is far more two-dimensional and hollow than what the band have proven capable of doing through their decades of previous work.