Which record producer worked with Metallica on The Black Album?

Bob Rock produced Metallica's self-titled 1991 album, widely known as The Black Album.

Metallica had been impressed by Rock's work on Mötley Crüe's 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. The band initially hesitated about hiring him, but ultimately decided that his production experience could help them make a stronger record.

Rock pushed the group toward a more collaborative studio process. Instead of constructing rhythm parts separately, the musicians were encouraged to play more as a unit. He also urged James Hetfield to improve the lyrics, supported live-style tracking, and helped shape a fuller bass sound.

The sessions were difficult. Rock and the band frequently argued over performances, arrangements, and production choices, while the group recorded numerous takes and assembled the strongest sections into finished tracks. The tension later appeared in the documentary A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica. Despite the strained process, Rock remained central to the album's polished, powerful sound.