Black Country, New Road - Forever Howlong

Reinvent? Fuck it, we are cool as we are.

Black Country, New Road is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating bands on the scene today. It feels like they’ve been a household name in their niche for ages, but let’s not forget that their debut album came out just four years ago. With For the First Time, they burst onto the scene, immediately establishing themselves among the best of the best. Then, just a year later, they doubled down with Ants From Up There—a record that can confidently be called one of the strongest of the decade.

It seemed like their future was laid out clearly: a band that entered the industry refusing to follow conventions or confine themselves to a single genre was naturally expected to keep evolving in the same way, earning praise and admiration along the way. But life, as it often does, had other plans. The group faced a major shift when Isaac Wood, their lead vocalist and a central creative force, left. Suddenly, BCNR wasn’t just searching for a new sound—they were searching for themselves. Who were they without the voice that listeners had come to associate with their music? And would the entire project collapse like a house of cards without him?

The answer to that question comes in the form of Forever Howlong, and honestly, I wouldn’t call it a rebirth. It’s more of a bold statement: if you remove one element from a beautiful painting, the painting doesn’t stop being beautiful. Right from the start, the band offers us something noticeably different yet intriguing—three lead vocalists, all of them women: Georgia Ellery, Tyler Hyde, and May Kershaw. This change doesn’t just give individual members more room to shine; it reshapes the band’s artistic identity and allows them to explore new perspectives.

Sonically, Forever Howlong isn’t a radical departure from what we’ve heard before, but the way the music is presented has undeniably evolved. The record is warmer, more accessible, and at times, even inviting—qualities that weren’t always at the forefront of their previous works. From the opening track “Besties”, the band welcomes listeners into a soft, cloud-like atmosphere, gently guiding them through a more reflective and melodic journey before gradually unfolding into the layered, intricate compositions they are known for.

Despite its complexity, the album unfolds seamlessly, making for an immersive and absorbing listen. You’ll find standout moments like the stunning six-minute “Two Horses”, with its unexpected yee-haw moment, the mesmerizing “For the Cold Country”, and, of course, the title track “Forever Howlong”, which is easily one of the album’s highlights. Every choice, every intricate detail in this record makes it clear that this isn’t a band desperately clinging to the past—it’s a band embracing the future with open arms.

Because, as the saying goes, the show must go on. But in the case of Black Country, New Road, the show never really stopped.

8.2/10

Forever Howlong is out April 4 via Ninja Tune.