Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” reached number six on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was released on April 20, 1992, as the third single from Metallica, commonly known as The Black Album. Its chart performance showed how far the band’s appeal had expanded beyond traditional heavy-metal audiences.
James Hetfield wrote the song while he was away from home on tour, initially intending it as a private piece rather than a Metallica track. Lars Ulrich heard the early idea and encouraged its development for the album. The finished recording became a power ballad built around acoustic guitar and a more vulnerable vocal performance.
Kirk Hammett does not play on the studio recording; Hetfield performed the guitar solo instead. Michael Kamen later created orchestral arrangements associated with the song’s broader presentation. “Nothing Else Matters” became one of Metallica’s most recognizable songs and a regular part of the band’s live repertoire.