Simplicity is key in latest Black Country, New Road album

By Kaitlyn Seawood

When a band like Black Country, New Road shifts gears, it’s easy to get nervous. “Ants From Up There” felt like lightning in a bottle — intense, poetic and messy in the best way — and when Isaac Wood left the band four days after the release in 2022, it was hard not to wonder: can they really pull this off again? 

Their new album, “Forever Howlong” proves they can — just in a softer, stranger and more introspective way. 

In this new album, the band, commonly referred to as BCNR, moves away from post-rock intensity toward a sound that’s subdued, more melodic and collaborative. With vocals now split between band members Tyler Hyde, May Kershaw and Georgia Ellery, the trade-offs create a lived-in feel. Rather than feeling scattered, the album delivers warmth and intimacy, like a conversation between friends.

Instrumentally, this is one of BCNR’s most varied and subtle works yet. The arrangements are dreamy but rich — piano, strings, delicate guitars and the occasional recorder or saxophone fill out a lush palette.

The singles released before the album, “Besties,” “Happy Birthday” and “For the Cold Country,” offer a good entry point into the album’s emotional range. “Besties” sets the tone for the album’s mood, capturing the slow fading of a close relationship with a muted kind of heartbreak. “Happy Birthday” leans into whimsical instrumentals, even as it delivers lines that sting. “For the Cold Country” feels like one of the band’s most expansive songs, unfolding through a series of subtle instrumental shifts that carry it from a tranquil beginning to a sweeping, emotional finish.

“Socks” is full of gentle instrumental escalation and self-questioning lyrics, such as: “How many things can one read till they feel they’re not afraid of it all?” While “Salem Sisters” is delightfully odd — lighthearted and rhythmic, with playful imagery and a sense of theatrical pacing.

“Two Horses” and “The Big Spin” take their time, unfolding gradually with poetic lyrics and growing intensity. “Two Horses” blends tenderness with a sense of grandeur, as the instrumentals soar around the question, “Have I finally found the road to lead on?” Meanwhile, “The Big Spin” feels more grounded, ending on a note of quiet optimism with the lyrics: “We won’t worry it will grow.”  

The album thrives in how it balances simplicity and detail. There are no sudden explosions or chaotic breakdowns like before, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. The band plays with pacing and layering in a way that keeps things engaging without overdoing it.

“Forever Howlong,” the title track, keeps things steady and reflective, gradually swelling but never exploding. And “Goodbye (Don’t Tell Me)” ends things gently, exploring healing and resilience with a folk-rock softness that lingers long after the final notes fade.

Thematically, “Forever Howlong” explores familiar ideas like longing, memory and uncertainty, but with a much delicate touch. Rather than building toward big emotional climaxes, the band lets these feelings simmer quietly. “Nancy Tries to Take the Night” holds back lyrics for nearly two minutes, letting playful, looping melodies lead the way before delivering its vulnerable reflections. “Mary” is folky and narrative-driven, describing a character’s emotional withdrawal with a mix of tenderness and sadness, in the lyrics “what a way to treat your friend.”

Rather than chasing past highs, BCNR leans into vulnerability and reflection, creating something that feels entirely their own. “Forever Howlong” doesn’t try to top what came before, it simply follows what feels right, and in doing so, becomes just as powerful in a nuanced, more deliberate way.

Kaitlyn Seawood is a senior journalism major