Which Metallica Black Album song begins with gong and sitar sounds?

“Wherever I May Roam” is the Metallica Black Album song that begins with gong and sitar sounds.

The unusual opening gives the track an immediately distinctive atmosphere before the main heavy-metal arrangement arrives. The intro uses Asian instruments, including a gong and sitar, making it one of the album’s clearest examples of Metallica expanding its instrumental palette.

The song was composed by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, with Hetfield credited as lyricist. Its lyrics focus on travel, independence, and the idea that the road itself can become home. The demo was recorded at Lars Ulrich’s home studio, known as the Dungeon, on August 13, 1990.

“Wherever I May Roam” was released as a single on October 19, 1992, more than a year after the album appeared. The recording also uses an overdubbed Warwick twelve-string bass for the intro before switching to a standard four-string bass for the main body. The song later became a regular part of Metallica’s live performances.