Michael Kamen arranged the orchestra on Metallica’s song “Nothing Else Matters” from The Black Album.
The track is notable for its acoustic-guitar opening and orchestral expansion, which gave Metallica a broader and more intimate sound than many listeners expected from the band. Kamen provided the orchestral arrangement, and the London Symphony Orchestra performed on the recording.
“Nothing Else Matters” originated as a private musical idea by James Hetfield. He initially did not expect it to become a Metallica song, but the band developed it into one of the album’s most recognizable pieces. The song also represented a more exposed vocal and emotional style for Hetfield.
Kirk Hammett does not play on the studio recording of “Nothing Else Matters,” although he appears in its music video and performs the song live. That detail is a frequent source of confusion when the track’s credited musicians are discussed.