Which Metallica song on The Black Album was recorded without Kirk Hammett?

“Nothing Else Matters” was recorded without Kirk Hammett on Metallica’s The Black Album.

The studio recording is unusual in Metallica’s catalog because lead guitarist Kirk Hammett does not appear on it. James Hetfield played the song’s guitar parts, including its guitar solo, while the rest of the band completed the arrangement.

The song began with Hetfield playing the opening arpeggio while speaking privately on the telephone. Its more vulnerable subject matter and orchestral scale made it a striking contrast with the album’s heavier tracks.

Composer Michael Kamen wrote the orchestral arrangements. Released as the third single in 1992, “Nothing Else Matters” became one of Metallica’s most recognized songs and a regular part of the band’s live repertoire.