Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Released on July 29, 1991, the song served as the lead single from The Black Album. Its chart performance was notable because heavy-metal songs rarely reached such a high position on the all-genre US singles chart, especially when the band had previously been associated mainly with underground and album-oriented metal.
The song’s accessible structure helped broaden Metallica’s audience. It combines a memorable central riff, a strong rhythmic groove, a compact arrangement, and lyrics built around sleep and childhood fears. The recording still retains the weight and volume expected from the band.
“Enter Sandman” also became a major video and radio success. Its promotional video won Best Rock Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, while the song became a permanent part of Metallica’s live performances and one of the most recognizable opening tracks in modern heavy metal.