Where did Metallica record most of the sessions for The Black Album?

Metallica recorded most of The Black Album at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles.

The band began recording there in October 1990, working with producer Bob Rock. The sessions lasted about eight months and involved intense discussions about performances, arrangements, lyrics, and the album’s overall sound. Rock encouraged the members to play more as a unit rather than constructing parts separately.

The studio was located in North Hollywood and had previously been used by other prominent rock acts. Metallica also spent about a week at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Final overdubs and mixing were completed at A&M Studios in Hollywood during June and July 1991.

The different locations can lead to confusion about where the album was made. One on One was the principal recording site, while Little Mountain and A&M handled additional stages of the project. The finished album was released after the lengthy, demanding production process in August 1991.