"Who We Are" kick-starts new era for Black Panther's career

25 years and still going strong, Black Panther’s new record "Who We Are" is an honest statement about their post rock star identity. When asked how a once-successful band can remain creatively and commercially vital after super-stardom, internal wrangling, and a long hiatus, the band simply lets their music do the talking.

Zhao Mingyi, Drummer, Black Panther, said, "We and our team did a lot of preparation for this album. The songwriting, sound engineering, album design, stage costumes, etc. Now the band is coming in as a whole new package, and so is the new album. We have held on to the concept of an LP rather than a random collection of singles."

Usually classified as pop-metal, Black Panther really relies on big, catchy melodies to make their songs memorable. They return to their hard rock roots this time, while new front man Zhang Qi shows off some brilliant vocal techniques, reminding people of the likes of Aerosmith and AC/DC at their best.

It’s hard not to admire these forty-something rockers for trying to push themselves, an effort to catch up with the younger generation.

Chinese rock group "Black Panther" are arguably one of the most respected bands in East Asia. After 9 years out of the spotlight, they have returned with a new album and a new lead vocalist.

Zhang Qi, Lead Vocalist, Black Panther, said, "I’m the newest and youngest member, so it was a bit overwhelming when I first rehearsed with them. They’re part idol, part tutor to me. But now I feel alright, because we are working as a team."

Music veteran Jamii Szmadzinski has co-produced the new album. Having worked with many Taiwan artists in the past, Jamii has blended his knowledge of East Asian musical landscapes with polished song craft and old-school rock ethics.

Jamii Szmadzinski, Producer, "Who We Are", said, "One thing that I instilled in the production process is the classic string sounds, which is popular thing in US where a lot of metal bands are touring with symphony orchestras, which will bring a whole new audience to them."

A busy tour schedule is to follow the new album’s release. Black Panther will then headline "Sonic Shanghai" in August with Jamiroquai and Limp Bizkit. That will be the Chinese mainland leg of Japan’s world-class open-air music festival, "Summer Sonic".