Which ensemble performs the orchestral parts on “Nothing Else Matters” from Metallica’s The Black Album?

The London Symphony Orchestra performs the orchestral parts on “Nothing Else Matters” from Metallica’s The Black Album.

The song is one of the album’s most distinctive departures from conventional heavy-metal arrangement. It combines James Hetfield’s clean acoustic guitar with a large orchestral texture, giving the track a sweeping character that helped it reach listeners far beyond Metallica’s usual audience.

Michael Kamen arranged the orchestral parts, while Randy Staub contributed tambourine on the recording. Kirk Hammett does not play on the original studio recording of “Nothing Else Matters,” although he appears in the music video and later performed the song with the band.

The London Symphony Orchestra should not be confused with the San Francisco Symphony, which later worked with Metallica on the S&M live projects. Those collaborations are separate from the orchestra heard on the original 1991 studio album.