Which producer’s son provided the child’s voice in Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”?

Bob Rock’s son provided the child’s voice in Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.”

The voice appears in the bedtime-prayer passage at the beginning of the song, creating an unsettling contrast with the track’s heavy guitars and pounding rhythm. The spoken part helps establish the song’s dream-and-nightmare atmosphere before the main riff arrives.

Bob Rock produced Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album and was closely involved in the recording of “Enter Sandman.” Rock and engineer Randy Staub also encouraged Metallica to record the song with all four band members performing together in the same room, an approach that differed from the band’s earlier recording habits.

The vocal cameo is often misidentified as one of the band members’ children because the song is so closely associated with James Hetfield’s voice and the group’s performance. It was actually supplied by Rock’s son.

“Enter Sandman” became the album’s lead single and one of Metallica’s signature songs. Its opening spoken section remains one of the most recognizable production details on The Black Album.