Black Country, New Road Announce New Album

The metamorphosis of Black Country, New Road continues to unfold with characteristic unpredictability. Their forthcoming album “Forever Howlong,” slated for an April 4 release via Ninja Tune, marks the group’s first proper studio venture since Isaac Wood’s departure reshaped their musical architecture in early 2022.

The London-based experimental outfit has emerged from that period of flux with “Besties,” a lead single that features Jockstrap’s Georgia Ellery stepping into a more prominent vocal role. It’s part of a broader reimagining that sees the band embracing a three-pronged approach to vocals, with Ellery sharing duties alongside Tyler Hyde and May Kershaw.

“Besties” marks a decisive shift in the band’s sonic palette, with Ellery’s debut as lead vocalist steering them further from their post-punk origins. The accompanying video, much like the track itself, serves as a bridge between their recent live iterations and this new studio-refined direction. The song’s textured arrangements and unexpected melodic turns suggest a band less interested in meeting expectations than in charting their own course through art-rock’s expanding territories.

Watch the video below:

This shift in vocal dynamics follows a period where the band chose evolution over replacement. Rather than seeking Wood’s successor, they crafted entirely new material while fulfilling their touring commitments—an approach documented on last year’s “Live at Bush Hall.”

For “Forever Howlong,” the group enlisted producer James Ford, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and Fontaines D.C., suggesting a more considered studio approach than their previous live-wire performances. The album arrives after a year of road-testing their new configuration, with the band now preparing for another extensive tour, including an appearance at Pitchfork Music Festival CDMX.

Since emerging from the fertile Brixton Windmill scene in 2018, Black Country, New Road have consistently defied easy categorization. While early comparisons to post-rock pioneers Slint and art-rock stalwarts Radiohead provided convenient reference points, their trajectory has increasingly pointed toward uncharted territory. “Forever Howlong” appears poised to push that evolution further still.

Image credit: Eddie Whelan

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