“The Unforgiven” is the Metallica song from The Black Album that later received the sequels “The Unforgiven II” and “The Unforgiven III.”
Metallica released “The Unforgiven” as the second single from its self-titled 1991 album. The song explores an individual's struggle against efforts to control or subjugate them, giving it a darker and more reflective tone than the album's most overtly driving tracks.
The band later continued the title as a numbered sequence. “The Unforgiven II” appeared on Reload in 1997, while “The Unforgiven III” appeared on Death Magnetic in 2008. The three songs are connected by their titles and recurring themes, but they are separate compositions from different periods.
The original song is also notable for reversing Metallica's earlier ballad formula: its verses are heavy and distorted, while the chorus is softer and more melodic. Kirk Hammett's solo was largely improvised during the recording process.