Which Metallica Black Album song became the band's first power ballad released as a single?

“Nothing Else Matters” became the Metallica Black Album song widely identified as the band's power ballad released as a single.

James Hetfield wrote the song in 1990 while touring and feeling homesick. He initially regarded it as a private composition and did not intend to present it to Metallica, but Lars Ulrich heard it and encouraged the band to develop it.

The track was released as the album's third single on April 20, 1992. Its clean guitar opening, orchestral textures, and intimate lyrics made it notably different from the band's earlier aggressive material.

Kirk Hammett does not play guitar on the original studio recording, although he appears in the music video and performs the song live. Michael Kamen later arranged orchestration for the band's S&M performances.