“Enter Sandman,” the lead single from Metallica’s 1991 album Metallica, was released on July 29, 1991.
The single arrived before the full album, which was released on August 12. It introduced listeners to the record’s more streamlined and spacious sound and became one of Metallica’s signature songs. The album version was the first track written for the project, although its lyrics were completed later than its music.
“Enter Sandman” reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its promotional video, directed by Wayne Isham, received heavy MTV exposure and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in 1992.
Because the single and album dates are close together, they are often mixed up. July 29 identifies the single’s release, while August 12 identifies the complete album’s release.