战争之王 - 美国Thrash Metal乐队Black乐队专访

Volcano Magazine
3 hours ago
10 min read

今天采访的是来自美国的Thrash Metal乐队Black，组建于2006年的Black乐队是一支美国的老牌Thrash Metal乐队，虽然组建于2006年但是乐队的第一张正式专辑“United States of War”却是在2013年才发布的，可见乐队对于第一张专辑的创作非常用心，12首作品每一首都是经典的Thrash Metal，复古，激进，具有攻击性的Riff，令人旋律和Solo让这支乐队迅速成为了美国炙手可热的乐队之一，也被更多音乐节邀请参加演出，被更多的歌迷认可和关注，在发行完第一张专辑之后乐队并没有选择继续发行新的作品，而是进行了大量的演出工作，直到2020年乐队才发布了EP专辑，依旧还是大家熟悉的Black乐队的味道，2026年乐队发行了最新单曲“Embrace My Fall”，新单曲发行之际杂志与乐队取得联系进行了一次专访！

（V: 代表笔者 B: 代表Black乐队）

Today we’re interviewing the American thrash metal band Black. Formed in 2006, Black is a veteran American thrash metal band. Although the band was formed in 2006, their first full-length album, United States of War, wasn’t released until 2013, demonstrating the band’s meticulous attention to detail in crafting their debut album. Each of the 12 tracks is a classic example of thrash metal, With their retro, aggressive, and intense riffs, along with captivating melodies and solos, the band quickly became one of the hottest acts in the U.S. They were invited to perform at more music festivals and gained recognition and attention from a growing fanbase. After releasing their debut album, the band chose not to immediately release new material but instead focused on extensive touring. It wasn’t until 2020 that they released an EP, which still carried the familiar Black sound. In 2026, the band released their latest single, “Embrace My Fall.” To mark the release, the magazine reached out to the band for an exclusive interview!

(V: Author B: Black)

采访对象：Black（Black乐队）

采访时间：2026.04.09

V: 兄弟你好，很高兴见到你，非常感谢你接受这次采访。我想这是你们乐队第一次接受中国杂志的采访。首先向所有中国乐迷和朋友们问好。BLACK乐队成立于2006年，今年正值乐队成立20周年。当初你们是如何组建这支乐队的？

Hello brother, it's nice to meet you and thank you very much for participating in this interview. I think this is the first time your band has been interviewed by a Chinese magazine. First of all, I would like to say hello to all Chinese fans and friends. Black band was founded in 2006 and this year marks the 20th anniversary of your band. How did you form this band in the first place?

B: 该乐队于2006年由两位挚友Gregorio Jimenez和Rich Garcia在萨克拉门托组建……两人将大部分时间都投入到创作和排练首批歌曲上，这些作品最终成为了BLACK乐队版图的基石。

The group was formed in 2006 by two good friends Gregorio Jimenez and Rich Garcia in Sacramento... the two spent most of their time writing and rehearsing the first songs which eventually would become the foundation for the empire of BLACK.

V: 你们乐队现在只有吉他手Erik Von Krauss是创始成员，其他成员都已更换。为什么第一代成员会离开乐队？新成员是如何加入乐队的？你对新成员的表现满意吗？

Your band now only has guitarist Erik Von Krauss as the original member, and all other members have been replaced. Why did the first generation members leave the band? How did the new members join the band? Are you satisfied with the new member's job?

B: 多年来，乐队经历了多次人员变动……与Erik Von Krauss并肩的是吉他手Austin Elkington，他比Erik更早加入乐队……以及自2019年起加入的主唱Don McMillan III……最初的创始成员们已各自走上了不同的道路…… 吉他手Rich Garcia因手腕和手部问题困扰多年，于2020年退役……鼓手Gregorio Jimenez则在2024年离开乐队，转而投身艺术创作、绘画及其他商业项目。随着时间推移，乐队找到了才华横溢的新成员……他们认同乐队的价值观并致力于延续乐队创立之初的音乐理念……

The group has gone through alot of member changes through the years... Alongside Erik Von Krauss is Guitarist Austin Elkington who joined the group before Erik...and Vocalist Don McMillan III since 2019... the original founding members have chosen different paths...Guitarist Rich Garcia endured years of hand and wrist problems and retired in 2020...Drummer Gregorio Jimenez left the group to pursue Artwork, painting and other business ventures in 2024. Over time the group has found members who share great talent...the group's values and desire to deliver the music the band was founded on...

V: 你们乐队的作品在录音效果方面依然令人印象深刻。你们是在哪家录音室录制这张专辑的？是由哪位制作人操刀制作的？

Your band's works are still very impressive in terms of recording effects. Which studio did you record your album in? Which producer made the album for you?

B: 我们过去发行的4张专辑都是在前Habeas Corpus乐队吉他手汤姆·希门尼斯位于加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托的录音室Audio Edge Recordings——录制的……我们的所有专辑均为自主制作。

We have recorded our past 4 releases with former Habeas Corpus Guitarist Tom Jimenez with his recording studio...Audio Edge Recordings in Sacramento, California....all of our releases are self-produced.

V: 你们乐队的每位成员都是拥有丰富创作经验的音乐人。能否介绍一下你们的创作过程？我相信你们的创作经验会给更多年轻音乐人带来启发！

Each member of your band is a musician with rich creative experience. Can you introduce your creative process? I believe your creative experience will bring inspiration to more young musicians!

B: 大家贡献了很多想法，我们之间有着像家人一样的氛围……我们的主要作曲人是埃里克……歌词由唐负责……Erik提出创意……我们的鼓手敲出契合的节奏，我们便各司其职完成自己的部分……最终成果总是力求完美……歌曲主题确定后，大家便能感受到自己该如何配合剧情……我们反复推敲直到定稿。

There's alot of input, we share a family like atmosphere... our main music writer is Erik...lyrics are introduced by Don....Erik brings ideas to the table...our drummer kicks in a beat that fits and we all fall in to deliver our parts...the result is always subject to perfection...the theme of the song is introduced so you feel your part to deliver to the storyline...and we knock it around until its solid.

V: 你们乐队的音乐主题是什么？为什么选择这个主题？又想通过这个主题表达什么？你们还开设了歌词专栏。这些歌词是谁创作的？创作灵感来自哪里？

What is the music theme of your band about, why did you choose this music theme, and what do you want to express through this music theme? You also created the lyrics section. Who created these lyrics and what inspired them?

B: 毫不留情……带来无情的……带有独特风格的激进鞭击金属……如同太空中的黑洞之力……它将你吞噬……没有光……只有势不可挡的力量……歌词……Don McMillan III构思主题并负责歌词创作与编排……灵感源自历史事件或人物，电影、黑暗、痛苦……人类的苦难……不涉及政治……

No Mercy....to deliver relentless...Aggressive thrash metal with a twist...Like the power of a Black Hole in space....It devours you....there is no light...just unstoppable power...Lyrics....Don McMillan III creates the themes and writes and arranges the lyrics... Inspired by Historic events or figures, movies, Darkness, Pain...suffering of mankind...No politics...

V: 你们的标志设计非常简洁，但我个人最喜欢这种设计形式，因为它让我很容易记住你们的名字。是谁为你们设计的这个标志？你们的专辑封面设计也非常别出心裁。这些专辑封面是谁设计的？设计灵感来自哪里？

Your logo design is very simple, but this design form is my personal favorite because I can easily remember your name. Who designed this logo for you? Your album art designs are also very unconventional. Who designed these albums for you and what inspired them?

B: 原始设计由创始成员Gregorio Jimenez于2006年绘制，该标志于2025年由Dead Life Inc.进行修改和重新设计。我们此前发布的两张专辑封面均由同一位艺术家设计……在此之前，设计灵感都来自网络上不受版权保护的作品……每张封面都反映了歌曲的内容……每首歌所表达的主题、故事和氛围。

The original design was drawn by founding member Gregorio Jimenez in 2006, the logo was changed and redesigned in 2025 by Dead Life Inc. Our album covers on our past 2 releases have been designed by the same artist...Before that they were ideas taken from uncopyrighted works online...each cover reflects what's inside the songs...the themes, stories and mood expressed in each.

V: 你们的专辑都是自主发行，从未与任何唱片公司合作。为什么不选择一家唱片公司来为你们发行专辑呢？

Your albums are all self released and you haven't collaborated with any label. Why don't you choose a label to release your albums for you?

B: 我们目前正在向美国和欧洲的唱片公司推销我们的作品。当今金属乐坛竞争非常激烈，吸引一家优秀唱片公司的注意是我们的主要目标。

We are currently shopping our releases to labels in the United States and Europe, there's alot of competition in today's Metal scene and catching the eye of a good label is our main goal.

V: 你们的作品发布速度非常慢。乐队成立于2006年，但首张正式专辑直到2013年才发行，第二张专辑更是直到2020年才推出。专辑发布速度如此缓慢的原因是什么？

Your release speed of works is very slow. You were founded in 2006, but your first official album was released in 2013, and you only released your second album in 2020. What is the reason for your slow release speed of albums?

B: 最初是由两位好友组建的，初衷只是想尽可能地一起即兴演奏并没有直接发行作品的目标……随着时间的推移，情况发生了变化，但在乐队早期，这并不是首要任务，这种态度自2020年以来发生了转变……现在我们专注于创作并发行更多音乐。

Was originally formed by two good friends with the intent to just jam whenever possible with no direct goal of releasing the compositions...in time this changed but in the early days of the group it was not a priority, this attitude has changed since 2020....with a focus on writing and releasing more music.

V: 你们的作品在编曲上非常讲究，既有复杂且复古的Riff和独奏，又有精准迅捷的鼓点，所有成员配合得天衣无缝。主唱的演唱也是作品的一大亮点。你们如何评价自己的作品？

Your work is very particular about arrangement, with complex and retro Riff and Solo, precise and fast drum beats, and all members working together seamlessly. The singer's singing is also a highlight of the work. What is your opinion on your own work?

B: 我们虽然来自不同的音乐背景，但在金属音乐的品味上却有着共同的追求——有人钟爱纯正的鞭击金属，有人偏爱硬核或传统金属……带着各自的兴趣，我们齐聚一堂，头脑风暴就此展开。主唱部分……灵感源自诸如Venom乐队的Cronos、King Diamond以及Iron Maiden等传奇人物……让听众能够听懂歌词，分享每首歌曲传递的信息……直接、激进且毫不留情，这才是Thrash Metal的最佳表现方式。

We all come from different music backgrounds, but still all share the same tastes in Metal music, some of us enjoy straight thrash metal, some enjoy Hardcore or standard metal....with each interest we arrive at the blackboard and the brainstorm begins. Vocals...inspired by greats Like Cronos of Venom, King Diamond and Iron Maiden... giving the listener the ability to understand the words in the song, to share in the message each song brings... direct, aggressive with no mercy is the best approach in Thrash Metal.

V: 你们参加过哪些现场演出？其中哪些给你们留下了深刻印象？能否介绍一下当时现场演出的氛围？你们乐队在2026年的新演出计划是什么？

What live performances have you participated in, and which ones left a deep impression on you? Can you introduce the atmosphere of the live performances at that time? What are your band's new performance plans for 2026?

B: 我们曾与许多优秀的金属乐队同台演出……D.R.I.绝对是我们最难忘的演出之一……他们都是很棒的人，待我们非常尊重……非常谦逊……那真是个难忘的夜晚……观看BLACK的演出……你绝对会嗓子哑掉……那是一场直击面门的猛烈冲击，充满侵略性的表演……我们计划在今年某个时候再录制一场现场视频……并进一步拓展美国西海岸的演出版图……

We have played with alot of great metal bands...D.R.I. would have to be one of our favorite shows.... Great people, treated us with respect...very humble...was a Great Night....Attending a BLACK...performance...you will definitely lose your voice....its an onslaught of in your face power and a delivery with Aggressive intent...We plan to do another live video recording sometime this year... and branch out more on the West Coast of the US....

V: 你们乐队今年有什么新计划吗？比如在创作或录制新作品时，能否和大家分享一些信息？

Does your band have any new work to do this year? For example, when creating or recording new works, can you share some information with everyone?

B: 是的……我们还有两首单曲即将发行……一首在2026年5月，另一首在7月……今年夏天，我们计划专注于创作几首新歌，以便在今年晚些时候以EP的形式发行，或者为2027年的专辑做准备……

Yes...we have two more singles coming out ....one in May and another in July of 2026...this summer we plan to focus on writing a good handful of new songs to release as an EP later this year or work towards an album for 2027....

V: 你们是一支非常棒的乐队，我将一直关注并支持你们。我也希望通过这次采访，能吸引更多中国乐迷关注并支持你们。采访即将结束，最后你们有什么想对中国的乐迷说的吗？

You are an excellent band, and I will always pay attention to and support your band. I also hope to attract more Chinese fans to pay attention to and support your band through this interview. The interview is coming to an end, do you have anything you want to say to Chinese fans at the end?

B: 我们期待为您带来您所期待的鞭击金属……我们邀请你们走进我们的歌曲……与之融为一体……感受那股力量……那份侵略性……那份无情的慈悲……这就是BLACK。

We look forward to bringing you the Thrash Metal you are looking for...We invite you to step inside our songs...become one...Feel the power...The Aggression...the Merciless compassion...that is BLACK.