Nothing Else Matters

James Hetfield penned the lyrics while touring and missing his then-girlfriend, Kristen Martinez. He kept the composition secret from his bandmates because he feared they would reject it as a betrayal of their thrash metal identity. The song features an intricate classical guitar intro played by Hetfield before the full band enters with a soaring melody and a famous solo by Kirk Hammett.

Metallica released the single on April 20, 1992, as the third track from their self-titled fifth studio album. It marked a significant departure from their signature sound and expanded their audience beyond the heavy metal core. The track reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and climbed to number eleven on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. [edit]