On what date was Metallica’s “The Unforgiven” released as a single?

Metallica released “The Unforgiven” as a single on October 28, 1991.

The song was the second single from Metallica, the self-titled fifth album commonly known as The Black Album. It followed “Enter Sandman,” which had introduced the album’s new, more streamlined sound earlier that summer.

“The Unforgiven” stands apart from the album’s faster and heavier material through its dramatic contrast between restrained verses and forceful choruses. Its lyrics focus on an individual struggling against efforts to control or subjugate him.

The song became the beginning of a recurring Metallica title sequence. “The Unforgiven II” appeared on Reload in 1997, while “The Unforgiven III” appeared on Death Magnetic in 2008. The original also became a Top 40 hit and reached the top 10 in Australia.