Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” was released as the third single from The Black Album on April 20, 1992.
The song was unusual in Metallica’s catalog because it was a power ballad centered on a clean guitar opening and a more personal lyrical tone. James Hetfield wrote the lyrics, and the track was co-written by Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.
Its release followed “Enter Sandman” and “The Unforgiven” as singles from the album. The song reached number 11 on the US Album Rock Tracks chart, number six in the United Kingdom, and number one in Denmark.
The date is often confused with the album’s August 12, 1991 release or the July 29, 1991 release of “Enter Sandman.” April 20, 1992 specifically identifies the single release of “Nothing Else Matters.”