"Fade to Black" is a song and the first power ballad by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released as the first promotional single from their second studio album, Ride the Lightning (1984). The song was ranked as having the 24th-best guitar solo ever by Guitar World readers.
The song peaked at number 100 on Swiss Singles Chart in 2008. The song is certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Background and composition
In an interview on the set of the production MTV Icon: Metallica in 2003, drummer Lars Ulrich recalls how he and vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield were "obsessed with death" at the time the album and song were produced. Hetfield later admitted that a break-in to their gear truck resulting in the loss of his favorite Marshall amplifier also contributed to the mood of the song.
The song's lyrics address suicidal feelings. It begins with an acoustic guitar introduction and becomes progressively heavier as the song goes on, similar to their future songs, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "One", and "The Day That Never Comes". James Hetfield commented on the song in a 1991 interview with Guitar World:
"Fade to Black" was released as a promotional single in 1984, through a phosphorescent green LP record.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from Ride The Lightning liner notes
- James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
- Lars Ulrich – drums
- Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
- Cliff Burton – bass
Charts
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2026)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI)
| 65
|}