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In 1991, Metallica got one of their greatest riffs of all time. All it took was one grunge icon
Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album marked a shift towards a broader, more accessible sound, prompting some long-time fans to see the band as moving away from thrash. Yet its lead single, ‘Enter Sandman’, showed that the change still came with a heavy, memorable riff, and became one of the band’s defining songs.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett said the riff came to him at about three in the morning while he was listening to Soundgarden, whose music he and James Hetfield admired. He described trying to capture their feel, particularly after hearing the band’s album ‘Louder Than Love’. Lars Ulrich pushed for ‘Enter Sandman’ to be the first single, despite initial doubts from producer Bob Rock and other band members.
In short
- ‘Enter Sandman’ helped define Metallica’s 1991 change in sound.
- Kirk Hammett traced its riff’s feel to Soundgarden.
- Lars Ulrich argued for it as the album’s first single.