Album Review: Black Country, New Road, Forever Howlong

Few bands can claim to be as resilient as Black Country, New Road. Following the amicable departure of their lead vocalist, Isaac Wood, back in 2022 – after the release of their second studio album – the Cambridge act were forced to reinvent themselves.

Their next album, 2023’s Live At Bush Hall, was brave, considering that it was made up of entirely new songs, with several of the other members – Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw – sharing vocal duties.

Forever Howlong is equally courageous, offering yet another suite of completely original numbers. Throughout, the group make their joyous, cinematic brand of art-rock/baroque pop seem easy. Other bands might wonder, in envy, how they can so quickly conjure up these new tracks. Then again, Black Country, New Road have always been about invention and experimentation.

Of the many swooning, searching songs on Forever Howlong, ‘Socks’ is the stand-out, with the Arcade Fire-like ‘Two Horses’ a close second. ‘The Big Spin’ is the only track that slides into a cosy folksiness that doesn’t chime with their characteristic weirdness.

Otherwise, everything is golden.

9/10

Out now