Which Metallica song was the first written for the band's 1991 self-titled album?

“Enter Sandman” was the first song Metallica wrote for its 1991 self-titled album.

The song grew from a guitar riff by Kirk Hammett. Lars Ulrich suggested changing the riff's repetition pattern, and the instrumental foundation developed quickly. James Hetfield, however, took longer to complete the vocal melody and lyrics, making the song the first written but among the last to receive its final words.

An instrumental demo was recorded on August 13, 1990. The band used early demos to establish the album's direction before beginning the main sessions at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. “Enter Sandman” ultimately became the record's first track and lead single.

This chronology can be confused with the order in which the album's songs were fully completed. “First written” refers to the songwriting process, while final lyrics, recording, mixing, and release occurred later. The song's finished form helped define the album's broader shift toward slower, heavier, and more polished arrangements.