When did Metallica begin recording its self-titled album, known as The Black Album?

Metallica began recording its self-titled album, known as The Black Album, on October 6, 1990.

The sessions took place primarily at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles and continued until June 16, 1991. The project therefore lasted roughly eight months, a long and demanding process for a band known for meticulous performances and high production standards.

Before the main sessions, Metallica recorded four demos on August 13, 1990: “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” Those demos helped establish the material before the band entered the full recording period.

The date is easy to confuse with the demo sessions or the album’s release. August 13, 1990, refers to the four demos, while October 6 marks the beginning of the album’s recorded sessions. June 16, 1991, marks the end of the listed recording period, and August 12, 1991, was the commercial release date.