Metallica’s highest Billboard Hot 100 position with the 1991 album’s lead single was number 16.
The lead single was “Enter Sandman,” released on July 29, 1991, shortly before the album Metallica. Its number-16 peak marked a significant crossover achievement for a heavy-metal band, especially because the song also became a major rock-radio success and a defining concert staple.
The Billboard Hot 100 ranks individual songs, whereas the Billboard 200 ranks albums. Those two charts are often mixed up when discussing Metallica’s success: the album reached number one on the Billboard 200, while “Enter Sandman” peaked at number 16 on the Hot 100. The song’s strong international performance added to its global impact.