On what dates was Metallica's The Black Album recorded?

Metallica's The Black Album was recorded from October 6, 1990, through June 16, 1991.

The sessions lasted roughly eight months and were centered at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The band also worked briefly at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver and later used A&M Studios in Hollywood for additional overdubs and mixing.

The time span is significant because the album represented a major change in Metallica's writing and recording process. Producer Bob Rock encouraged the musicians to work more as a unit, record live-feeling performances, and refine the songs through many takes. The process was productive but frequently tense.

The recording dates are not the same as the release date. Metallica was issued by Elektra on August 12, 1991, after the final studio work had been completed. That gap allowed mastering, manufacturing, and promotion to proceed before release.