Metallica are one of the greatest hard rock bands ever and have legions of die-hard fans. But as anyone who listened to music in the ’80s will tell you, Metallica put the HEAVY in heavy metal. Growing up a massive fan of The Cure, Public Enemy, The Dead Milkmen and The Tragically Hip, I kind of steered clear of Metallica. I mean, there were tons of kids in my neighbourhood that loved the band and, of course, I knew songs like “For Whom the Bells Toll” and “One” but I never fully fell into the whole metal scene.

Then one random August day in 1991 I was flipping the radio dial in my mom’s red ’88 Cavalier and there it was… “Enter Sandman.” I will never forget James Hetfield’s voice.

Dreams of war, dreams of liars

Dreams of dragon’s fire

And of things that will bite

Sleep with one eye open

Gripping your pillow tight

To my shock, it was a radio friendly Metallica song. “What is going on?” I thought. I could not wait for the DJ to explain what the heck was up. As the song ended, the jock came on the air and announced, “That’s, ‘Enter Sandman’, a brand new song by Metallica, from a new album with no name.”

What?!

Then, as I hit the streets looking for the next road hockey game, I got the skinny from my buddies.

The album would not have a name and simply be known as “The Black Album.”

The Black Album debuted at number one in ten countries and spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard chart. It spawned a massive worldwide tour that nearly destroyed the band and pumped five radio singles into the mainstream.

It was the Metallica album that could not be ignored. But, in my little corner of the world, it almost seemed to hurt the band. I remember buddies saying that the band had sold out and they were on to more heavier bands like Slayer and Anthrax. But to me, it was the Metallica album that made me stop and really look at the band as more than just a thrash band. How about you?

Did you think it was a turning point for the band (good or bad)? Do you still have your Enter Sandman Tour t-shirt?

Filed under: 1991, Afternoons with Kenny Jones, Enter Sandman, Metallica