“Enter Sandman” was released as the lead single from Metallica's self-titled album, commonly called The Black Album.
Elektra issued the single on July 29, 1991, two weeks before the album itself. It became the record's opening track and introduced many listeners to Metallica's more streamlined, radio-ready style, built around a memorable guitar riff and a dark bedtime-nightmare theme.
The song's music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich, while Hetfield wrote the lyrics. It reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Metallica's most recognizable songs.
“Holier Than Thou” was initially considered for the opening track and first single, but “Enter Sandman” ultimately took that role. The album later produced four additional commercial singles: “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.”