“Enter Sandman” was Metallica’s highest-charting US Billboard Hot 100 single from The Black Album, reaching number 16.
The song’s chart performance helped establish Metallica as a major mainstream rock act in the United States. It was released as the album’s lead single on July 29, 1991, and its memorable riff, radio-friendly structure, and nightmare-themed lyrics made it an immediate signature track.
Other Black Album singles also charted on the Hot 100, including “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.” None reached a higher Hot 100 position than “Enter Sandman.” “Nothing Else Matters” was especially successful in several other countries, but its US Hot 100 peak was lower.
The single’s success should not be confused with its rock-radio performance or later certifications. It became one of Metallica’s most performed songs and appeared on later live releases, but the key US chart fact is its number-16 peak on the Billboard Hot 100.