Which song on Metallica's 1991 album contains no performance by Kirk Hammett?

“Nothing Else Matters” is the Metallica song from the 1991 album that contains no performance by Kirk Hammett.

James Hetfield wrote and performed the song's guitars and vocals, while Lars Ulrich played drums. Hammett does not appear on the studio recording, despite being Metallica's lead guitarist and appearing in the song's music video. He later performed the song live with the band and played its acoustic introduction in concert.

The track began as a private guitar exercise by Hetfield and developed into one of Metallica's most recognizable ballads. Its orchestral arrangement was provided by Michael Kamen, with the London Symphony Orchestra appearing on the recording.

The song became an important crossover moment for the band. Its reflective lyrics, acoustic opening, orchestral textures, and restrained performance broadened Metallica's audience while preserving the album's dramatic tone.