“Enter Sandman” is the opening track on Metallica's 1991 album, commonly known as The Black Album.
The song was also selected as the album's lead single and became one of Metallica's most recognizable recordings. Its central riff came from Kirk Hammett, while James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich helped shape the finished composition. Hetfield wrote lyrics centered on childhood fears, nightmares, and unsettling bedtime imagery.
The track's position was not always certain during planning. “Holier Than Thou” was initially considered for the opening slot and as the first single, but producer Bob Rock argued that the album contained several potential classics. Ulrich strongly supported “Enter Sandman,” and it ultimately became the record's musical introduction.
The single was released on July 29, 1991, before the album itself. Its success helped establish the Black Album's accessible but still heavy character and drew listeners far beyond Metallica's established thrash-metal audience.