Beyond the Riffs: The Making of Metallica’s Black Album

Beyond the Riffs returns with the album that changed everything.

This episode explores the creation of Metallica’s Black Album — the moment where the band abandoned complexity for clarity and redefined what heavy music could be. After pushing themselves to the brink with …And Justice for All, Metallica faced a crossroads: continue down the path of technical excess, or tear everything down and rebuild from the ground up.

With producer Bob Rock, the band entered One on One Studios and challenged every instinct they had developed throughout the 1980s. Songs were stripped back. Riffs were simplified. Performances were scrutinized. Vulnerability replaced armor.

From the writing and evolution of “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” and “The Unforgiven,” to the deeply personal origins of “Nothing Else Matters” and “The God That Failed,” this episode breaks down the stories, studio decisions, and emotional weight behind every track.

This isn’t just the story of Metallica’s biggest album —
it’s the story of a band stepping into global dominance… and unknowingly setting the stage for their most radical reinvention yet.

Beyond the Riffs: The Black Album.


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