What is the opening track on Metallica's Metallica, commonly called The Black Album?
Answer
Enter Sandman
“Enter Sandman” is the opening track on Metallica's Metallica, commonly called The Black Album.
The song was also the album's lead single, released on July 29, 1991. Its instantly recognizable guitar riff, heavy groove, and nightmare-themed lyrics made it one of Metallica's most accessible songs and helped introduce the band to a much wider audience.
Music for the song was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich. Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which draw on childhood fears and bedtime imagery. The song's subject is not literally a character from a traditional storybook; the Sandman is used as a dark figure connected with sleep and dreams.
The track's position was significant because it announced the album's streamlined direction immediately. “Enter Sandman” reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a permanent part of Metallica's live repertoire. The other three answers are also songs from the same album, which makes them plausible alternatives.