Which Metallica song on The Black Album was inspired by James Hetfield's mother's death?

"The God That Failed" was inspired by James Hetfield's mother's death.

Hetfield's mother, Cynthia, died of cancer in 1980 after relying on Christian Science beliefs that discouraged medical treatment. Hetfield later drew on the pain and anger surrounding that experience when writing the song for Metallica.

The track examines faith, healing, and the feeling that belief has failed when suffering is not prevented. Its title is deliberately confrontational, but descriptions of the song often note that it expresses personal anguish rather than serving as a simple celebration of disbelief.

The song was one of the album's early public previews and was among Metallica's first original recordings to use tuning a half step below standard. It was never released as a commercial single, yet its heavy riffing and subject matter made it an important part of the album's emotional center.