Metallica unveil 1991 'rough mix' version of The Unforgiven

Metallica are continuing to share how their iconic 1991 Black Album ultimately came to life – this week with a (still pretty smooth) 'rough mix' version of The Unforgiven.

This rendition is taken from the Rough & Alternate Mixes 2CD from their highly-anticipated Black Album reissue – which not only features a load of previously unheard demos and mixes, plus interviews and live shows, but also the remastered album.

"Can you believe it’s been almost 30 years since its original release?" Metallica ask. "Neither can we! Then off we went to hit the road for a massive 300+ show tour, and the ’Tallica experience went to a whole new level. To celebrate this milestone, we had to go all out with a wide variety of configurations for all your listening pleasure, including 180-gram double vinyl LP, standard CD and 3CD expanded edition, and digital (including high-def versions).

Read this: The 50 best albums from 1991

"There’s also the ultimate release for die-hard fans: a Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set containing over 24 hours of music including the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, and live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, and live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four different tour laminates, three unique lithos, three guitar picks, a Metallica lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card."

Oooooft! Listen to The Unforgiven (May 14th, 1991 Rough Mix) below:

Of course, we've also got The Metallica Blacklist – featuring the likes of Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Ghost, Weezer, Corey Taylor, Biffy Clyro, Royal Blood, PUP, IDLES and more – on the way, too.

"With contributions from countries all over the globe from the U.S. to Nigeria, there are tracks from singer-songwriters, country artists, electronic, and hip-hop artists alongside punk rockers, indie darlings, icons of rock, metal, world music, and many, many more covering the entire spectrum from musicians we’ve shared the stage with, to some who were not even born yet when the original album was released!” the band say.

"In addition to raising money for charity, we wanted to show that Metallica’s music transcends genres, distance, and cultures, and we like to think that – with everyone’s help – we’ve done just that. It was important to us that the artists could choose whichever song they most connected to; it didn’t matter if we already had multiple versions of a song, if an artist wanted to cover that song, so be it. We were honored to have artists of this caliber want to be a part of the project and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed putting it all together!

"One album, 12 songs, 53 artists, unlimited possibilities.”

Catch Metallica live at the following upcoming tour dates:

September 2021

24 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life
26 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life

October 2021

8 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock
10 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock

November 2021

6 Atlanta, GA – ATLive
12 Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
14 Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville

June 2022

15 Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell
17 Landgraaf, Netherlands – Pinkpop
19 Florence, Italy – Firenze Rocks
22 Prague, Czech Republic – Prague Rocks
26 Clisson, France – Hellfest

July 2022

1 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
6 Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool
8 Lisbon, Portugal – NOS Alive

Read this: 10 lesser known Metallica songs that everyone needs to hear