Over what period were Metallica's original Black Album sessions recorded?
Answer
October 6, 1990–June 16, 1991
Metallica's original Black Album sessions were recorded from October 6, 1990, to June 16, 1991.
The sessions took place mainly at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with additional work at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver and A&M Studios in Hollywood. The long timetable reflected the band's demanding approach, extensive overdubbing and repeated efforts to capture the right performances.
Bob Rock pushed Metallica to work collaboratively in the studio and to record with a stronger live feel. The band often made many takes, then selected and edited the strongest performances. Rock later described the experience as difficult, while the resulting production became one of the album's defining features.
The recording period ended less than two months before the album's August 12, 1991 release. Dates connected with individual demos or singles can be mistaken for the full sessions, but the October-to-June span refers to the album's principal recording chronology.