"Cemetery Gates" was the second single from Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" album, released in 1990. The song reached No. 18 on Billboard's "Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks," which tracked radio airplay. The guitar solo launched guitarist Dimebag Darrell into legendary status ahead of his time and was voted No. 35 of Guitar World Magazine's "50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time." When asked what the song was about, vocalist Phil Anselmo confided that he was inspired by the suicide of a close friend, making this ballad one of the most personal. The song went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998 for Best Metal Performance.
"I Remember You" hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 on the Mainstream Rock charts in 1989 following the release of their debut album. In an interview appearing in the Delaware County Daily Times following the 2007 release of his solo album, lead singer Sebastian Bach was quoted as saying, "'I Remember You' was the No. 1 prom song in the United States of America in the year 1990. You talk about making memories!"
One of the only modern metal ballads to appear on VH1's Top 100 Greatest Rock Songs, "Bring Me to Life" won Evanescence near-overnight success when it was released in 2003. The song originally appeared on the "Daredevil" movie sound track and was released on their debut album, "Fallen." The single topped both the Billboard Top 40 and Modern Rock chart, was nominated for two MTV Music Awards and won an American Music Award the following year.
Metallica is probably the most well-known and awarded metal acts of the genre. "Nothing Else Matters" was released in 1992 and only reached No. 32 on the Billboard 100 and No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart; nevertheless, the ballad has become one the most well known. Celebrated for its composition, lyrical eloquence and impact, "Nothing Else Matters" has been covered over 40 times since release. In contrast, Metallica's 1996 single "Until It Sleeps" failed to leave a lasting impression despite being the only metal ballad to reach as high as No. 10 on the Billboard charts.
Testament was the biggest metal band never to reach Platinum status until a decade after their prime. Their second single from their 1992 album "The Ritual," "Return to Serenity," is the only single that ever had Billboard success, reaching No. 22 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The guitar solo has become renowned among metal fans as one of the most beautiful ever recorded by a thrash band, while the chorus has been touted as the most memorable.
Album sales, radio play and a massive fan base can be obvious indicators of a band's or song's popularity, but these factors discern little about the music itself. Over the years, there have been hundreds of amazing metal ballads written by bands outside the U.S. mainstream, such as Katatonia's "Sold Heart," Stratovarious' "Forever," Opeth's "Burden" or "Eva" from Nightwish.