Which song was released as the lead single from Metallica?

“Enter Sandman” was released as the lead single from Metallica. Elektra issued it on July 29, 1991, shortly before the album appeared.

The song grew from a guitar riff written by Kirk Hammett after he was inspired by Soundgarden’s 1989 album Louder Than Love. Lars Ulrich suggested rearranging the riff, and James Hetfield later wrote lyrics involving childhood fears, nightmares, and the Sandman figure.

It became one of Metallica’s signature songs and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also helped introduce the band’s more concise, polished, and accessible sound to a much larger audience.

The recording used a layered “wall of guitars.” Several rhythm-guitar tracks were combined, while the drums were assembled from numerous takes. The music video was directed by Wayne Isham and won the 1992 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.