At which recording studio did Metallica record most of its 1991 self-titled album, commonly called The Black Album?

The story behind the answer

Metallica recorded most of its 1991 self-titled album, commonly called The Black Album, at One on One Recording Studios.

The studio was in Los Angeles, California, and served as the principal location for the album's recording sessions. The band worked there from October 1990 through June 1991, a lengthy process shaped by repeated performances, revisions, and disagreements with producer Bob Rock.

Metallica also spent about a week at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Additional overdubs and mixing took place at A&M Studios in Hollywood near the end of the project. These locations are sometimes confused because all three appear in accounts of the album's production, but One on One was the main recording studio.

The sessions represented a new working method for the band. Rock wanted James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Jason Newsted to perform together more often, rather than recording isolated parts that would later be assembled. That approach helped create the album's more direct, unified feel and contributed to its polished but forceful production.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: