Which Metallica song began as an instrumental before vocals were added for The Black Album?

“My Friend of Misery” began as an instrumental before vocals were added for Metallica’s 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album.

The track grew from a main riff written by bassist Jason Newsted. It was initially intended to continue Metallica’s earlier practice of including an instrumental on each album, but the idea changed during the Black Album sessions.

The finished song became a brooding, bass-led piece with lyrics by James Hetfield. Its arrangement gives the bass and layered guitars a prominent role, helping it stand apart from the album’s more direct radio singles.

The track is sometimes overlooked because it was not one of the album’s five commercial singles. Nevertheless, it is important to the record’s history because it shows how a member’s instrumental idea could be reshaped during collaboration with Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and producer Bob Rock.