: Even Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine , a long-time rival of the band, has praised it as his favorite song on the Black Album , noting it was the first time he truly heard James Hetfield sing with such vulnerability. Story & Lyrics

"" is widely considered one of Metallica's most innovative tracks, famously flipping the traditional "power ballad" structure on its head by featuring heavy, distorted verses and a softer, melodic chorus. Critical & Fan Reviews

: The song eventually grew into a three-part saga spanning 17 years. While the original (1991) is a consensus masterpiece, " The Unforgiven II " (1997) added bluesy/country elements, and " The Unforgiven III " (2008) is noted for its piano-driven, orchestrally rich arrangement.