Which Metallica song opens The Black Album as its first track?

“Enter Sandman” opens Metallica’s The Black Album as its first track.

The song was also the album’s lead single, released on July 29, 1991, before the full album arrived on August 12. Its central riff and concise structure made it an immediate introduction to Metallica’s more direct 1991 sound.

Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich wrote the music, while Hetfield wrote the lyrics. The lyrics use childhood nightmares and the Sandman figure as their subject, giving the song a darker version of a bedtime-lullaby theme.

The accompanying music video was directed by Wayne Isham and premiered shortly after the single’s release. “Enter Sandman” became one of Metallica’s signature songs and has appeared regularly in the band’s live performances, while also becoming entrance music for sports teams and athletes.