“Enter Sandman” was the last of the early demos to receive lyrics during The Black Album’s development.
The song was actually the first Black Album composition to be written, but its vocal words came later. This unusual sequence helped distinguish it from the other early demos recorded in August 1990, including “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Wherever I May Roam.”
The finished song centers on childhood bedtime imagery and fear, with a memorable riff that became one of Metallica’s defining musical signatures. It was selected as the album’s lead single and released on July 29, 1991.
“Enter Sandman” ultimately became a major crossover success. It reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced the album’s more streamlined, radio-ready sound to a much broader audience.