Over what period were the main recording sessions for Metallica’s The Black Album conducted?

The main recording sessions for Metallica’s The Black Album ran from October 1990 to June 1991.

The album’s detailed recording dates are listed as October 6, 1990, through June 16, 1991. Most work took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with additional time at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver and later overdubbing and mixing at A&M Studios in Hollywood.

The lengthy schedule reflected the demanding relationship between Metallica and producer Bob Rock. Rock encouraged the band to record collaboratively, refine performances through many takes, and pursue a more unified studio sound. The process involved repeated disagreements but ultimately produced the band’s most commercially successful album.

The period is easy to confuse with the release dates of the album and singles. “Enter Sandman” was released in July 1991, and Metallica followed in August 1991, after the recording sessions had ended. The dates therefore describe creation of the album, not its public rollout.