Recording began in October 1990 for Metallica’s 1991 album The Black Album.
The main sessions took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The album’s recorded dates are listed as October 6, 1990, through June 16, 1991, reflecting an extended production process that lasted roughly eight months.
Metallica hired Bob Rock after admiring his work on Mötley Crüe’s Dr. Feelgood. The band and producer argued during the sessions because Rock pushed for more direct performances and a different recording approach. Hetfield later described the goal as capturing a stronger live feeling, with the band functioning more as a unit in the studio.
Additional work also took place at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, while overdubbing and mixing were completed at A&M Studios in Hollywood. The resulting album was released by Elektra Records on August 12, 1991.