“Nothing Else Matters” was released as the third single from Metallica's 1991 album on April 20, 1992.
The song was unusual in Metallica's catalog because it began as a private guitar piece written by James Hetfield. Lars Ulrich later encouraged Hetfield to develop it for the band, and it became one of the album's most prominent power ballads.
The recording includes orchestral contributions arranged by Michael Kamen, with the London Symphony Orchestra appearing on the track. Kirk Hammett does not play on the studio recording, although he appears in the music video and performs the song live with the band.
The single became a major international success. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and topped the chart in Denmark, while also reaching the top ten in several other European countries. Its broad appeal helped show that the album could connect with audiences beyond traditional metal fans.