Forever Howlong
Alright, let’s get something out of the way first: if you’re going into Forever, Howlong expecting Ants From Up There, you’re probably gonna be disappointed. And that’s not because the album isn’t good — it’s actually great. But it’s just not that.
This is a completely different version of Black Country, New Road. Like, genuinely a different band in many ways. Since their last album, the lead singer and primary lyricist (Isaac) left, and the band’s been rebuilding and evolving, both live and in the studio. Within a year, they dropped two albums that sounded nothing alike, and now, after three years of internal shifting, they’re finally back with something that’s… well, really different. But that was bound to happen. This isn’t just a "new chapter" — it's an entirely new book.
If you’ve kept up with their live shows or checked out the singles they’ve been trickling out, you probably knew what you were getting into. But for everyone else still clinging to the tear-stained orchestral chaos of Ants, I just think it’s worth saying: let that go. You’re not gonna find the same gut-wrenching lyricism or that dense, emotionally explosive build-up here. What you will find is something softer, brighter, and honestly kind of beautiful in its own way.
The first thing that hit me on the first listen was how bright this thing sounds. Like, literally — the production just feels sunny. There's still a ton going on instrumentally (they haven’t lost their flair for layering), but now there’s a lightness to it. The arrangements are playful and full of life — mandolins, harpsichords, recorders, piccolos. It's like the band raided a middle school music room and somehow turned it into gold. And the crazy part? None of it feels gimmicky. The weird instruments don’t feel weird — they feel right. Like of course there’s a harpsichord here. Of course there’s a recorder solo.
I know some people freaked out over “Besties” when it dropped — like “oh no, are they doing the twee thing now?” — but don’t worry. It’s not just happy-go-lucky twee-core. Sure, it’s less emotionally devastating than their earlier work, but there’s still real depth here. “For the Cold Country” is a perfect example — it builds into this huge, chromatic riff that just crashes in on itself in the most epic way possible. It’s heavy, it’s sweeping, but it never feels melodramatic. And honestly, the fact that they’ve pulled back production-wise in some places makes those big moments hit even harder. There’s space now — which means there's room to breathe and build.
So let’s talk about the vocals, because I think this might be the part that’s the biggest adjustment for people. Isaac had a very specific presence — that desperate, breaking-down-on-the-mic energy. But now, the vocals are spread across Tyler, Georgia, and May, and it totally works. It’s not jarring or uneven. If anything, it makes the whole album feel more like a collaborative storytelling project.
And the stories — that’s where the magic really is this time. The songwriting is on another level. Instead of one voice baring their soul across an entire record, we’re getting these tiny, self-contained narratives. Some are sweet — falling in love with a best friend, or just basking in quiet domesticity — but others are much weirder or darker. There’s a tale about a woman sleeping around and spiraling into despair, a knight going through a full existential crisis, and even one where a guy betrays his lover and kills their two horses. Like, what??
It’s theatrical, but not in a try-hard way. More like modern folklore. These songs feel like short stories, each with their own emotional temperature, each sung by the person who understands that character best. And the vocalists do such a good job bringing those characters to life — there’s real emotion in the delivery, whether it’s joy, grief, rage, or confusion. I wouldn’t be mad if the band kept going in this direction and just made a whole concept album of connected fables next.
If you’re still stuck on who Black Country, New Road used to be, this album might not be what you wanted. But if you’re open to who they are now, Forever, Howlong is a genuinely beautiful listen. The songs are strange and delicate and whimsical and grounded all at once. The band feels looser but also more confident — like they’ve finally stopped trying to replicate past magic and are just making whatever feels right. And I think it’s paying off.
This isn’t a sequel. It’s not a return. It’s a reinvention. And it works.
BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROAD - FOREVER HOWLONG
RATING - 9/10
FAVORITE TRACKS - Salem Sisters, Besties
GENRE - Baroque Pop, Alt Rock, Folk, Progressive Rock