Which heavy metal band's song 'Enter Sandman' was a major hit?

The heavy metal band whose song “Enter Sandman” became a major hit is Metallica. The song was released in 1991 as the opening track and lead single from the band’s self-titled fifth album, commonly called The Black Album.

“Enter Sandman” helped move Metallica from a hugely respected thrash-metal act into worldwide mainstream stardom. Kirk Hammett developed the central guitar riff, while James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich helped shape the arrangement; Hetfield wrote lyrics about childhood nightmares, bedtime fears and the unsettling figure of the Sandman.

The single reached No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Metallica’s signature concert songs. Its relatively direct structure and memorable riff made it more accessible than much of the band’s earlier, more complex material. Listeners sometimes confuse it with songs by Anthrax, Slayer or Megadeth because all four bands are associated with thrash metal’s classic era, but none of those groups recorded “Enter Sandman.” The song is also famous outside rock: it became entrance music for baseball closer Mariano Rivera and for Virginia Tech sporting events.