What was the recording span for Metallica's 1991 self-titled album?
Answer
October 6, 1990 – June 16, 1991
Metallica's 1991 self-titled album was recorded from October 6, 1990, to June 16, 1991. The sessions lasted roughly eight months and involved several studios and an unusually demanding production process.
Most of the work took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Metallica also spent about a week at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, while additional overdubs and mixing were completed at A&M Studios in Hollywood.
The dates are sometimes confused with the album's release date, August 12, 1991, or with the separate demo sessions recorded in August and October 1990. The recording span refers to the creation of the finished album, not its later promotion, mastering, or single releases.
Producer Bob Rock urged the band to record collaboratively and to repeat takes until the performances felt right. The resulting album marked a shift from the more intricate thrash approach of the band's earlier records toward slower, heavier, and more refined arrangements.