Metallica share live version of The Unforgiven

Metallica 1992 — (Image credit: Midori Tsukagoshi/Shinko Music/Getty Images)

Latest in the line of releases to celebrate Metallica's 30th anniversary of The Black Album is a remastered version of The Unforgiven. The song is set to appear on the band's epic expanded boxset, and was recorded live at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, NM on August 27, 1992.

Featuring guitar tech John Marshall taking over from James Hetfield on rhythm guitar duties due to an unfortunate pyrotechnic accident a couple weeks prior, the rendition feels dramatically more exposed than the original – and significantly less impactful. However, it's somewhat incredible to watch such an unpolished, raw performance, echoed by the vulnerability of Hetfield's arms plastered in bandages.

Alongside the box-set release, Metallica are slowly drip-feeding songs from their charity covers album, The Blacklist, which will feature an array of 53 different artists. So if you're not totally sold on this rendition of The Unforgiven, you'll be happy to know that courtesy of The Blacklist, there's another three whole alternative covers of the track by Diet Cig, Ha*Ash and Vishal Dadlani featuring DIVINE and the Shor Police.

Watch Metallica: The Unforgiven (Las Cruces, NM - August 27, 1992) below:

Liz manages Louder's social media channels and works on keeping the sites up to date with the latest news from the world of rock and metal. Prior to joining Louder as a full time staff writer, she completed a Diploma with the National Council for the Training of Journalists and received a First Class Honours Degree in Popular Music Journalism. She enjoys writing about anything from neo-glam rock to stoner, doom and progressive metal, and loves celebrating women in music.