“Enter Sandman” was released as the lead single from Metallica's The Black Album on July 29, 1991.
The single arrived about two weeks before the self-titled album, which was released on August 12, 1991. That release strategy gave the band a major introductory track before the complete record reached stores. “Enter Sandman” became the album's best-known early entry point and helped signal Metallica's move toward a more accessible, slower, and heavier sound.
The song's commercial performance was notable for a heavy-metal track: it peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned a platinum certification. Its video also became an important part of the campaign, receiving the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in 1992.
The album later produced four more commercial singles. Their release dates should not be confused with the album date or with the date of the first single: “The Unforgiven” followed in October 1991, while the remaining singles arrived during 1992 and 1993.