James Hetfield wrote the initial guitar-based idea for “Nothing Else Matters” on The Black Album.
Hetfield developed the song in 1990 while Metallica was on tour and he was missing home. He initially treated the idea as personal material rather than something intended for Metallica, but drummer Lars Ulrich heard it and encouraged its development.
The finished song is credited to Hetfield and Ulrich. It became one of the band's best-known power ballads and was released as the album's third single on April 20, 1992.
Kirk Hammett does not play guitar on the studio recording, another detail that can cause confusion because he is Metallica's lead guitarist. Hetfield played the solo on the recording, while orchestral arrangements were written by Michael Kamen.