Albums to watch

Forever Howlong

Black Country, New Road

Forever Howlong

Third album from the London post-rock band and first since the departure of lead vocalist Isaac Wood

ADM rating[?]

8.1

Label
Ninja Tune
UK Release date
04/04/2025
US Release date
04/04/2025
  1. 10.0 |   DIY

    A jubilant rebirth
    Read Review

  2. 10.0 |   Dork

    They’ve navigated seismic changes and delivered music that feels both radically new and deeply authentic
    Read Review

  3. 9.5 |   Northern Transmissions

    Brims with youth, wisdom, and courage
    Read Review

  4. 9.0 |   Under The Radar

    If there’s any justice in the world Forever Howlong will not only garner a fresh following for what is perhaps the UK’s most progressive collective of musicians and songwriters, but also cement Black Country, New Road as one of the most vital, innovative, and bewitching acts the world has to offer right now
    Read Review

  5. 9.0 |   All Music

    Black Country, New Road remain one of the most intriguing indie bands of the 2020s, and their flair for reinvention makes every release a thrill
    Read Review

  6. 9.0 |   Far Out

    With a trio of songwriters taking charge, the band seem to have more power, confidence and potential to deliver for longer when working as a more democratic unit than they possibly did with Wood at the helm
    Read Review

  7. 9.0 |   musicOMH

    Their first without singer Isaac Wood packs accessible sounds without sacrificing the band’s musical wizardry
    Read Review

  8. 9.0 |   Clash

    It takes time to get your head around ‘Forever Howlong’, with its freeform song structures and heady arrangements — but if you allow yourself the space to unravel its secrets, you’ll be amply rewarded
    Read Review

  9. 9.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    An album that’s messy, incohesive, and purely, beautifully human
    Read Review

  10. 8.3 |   Paste Magazine

    The Cambridge band’s third album rotates among three distinct lead vocalists: Tyler Hyde, May Kershaw, and Georgia Ellery. Each musician brings a separate aesthetic, vocabulary, and emotional compass to the material, allowing every track to fully inhabit its writer’s idiosyncrasies
    Read Review

  11. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    Forever Howlong is an ambitious reinvention that both captivates and, at times, frustrates
    Read Review

  12. 8.0 |   NME

    The London sextet return with their long-awaited third studio album – and they’ve still got it
    Read Review

  13. 8.0 |   The FT

    The sextet shift towards baroque pop in their first studio record since frontman Isaac Wood’s departure
    Read Review

  14. 8.0 |   The Observer

    Sharing lead vocals since the exit of frontman Isaac Wood, the band sound less intense but more agile on a set rich in vivid moments and exceptional musicianship
    Read Review

  15. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    Forever Howlong proves that the possibilities for Black Country, New Road remain endless
    Read Review

  16. 8.0 |   Exclaim

    Like the queen of the night, it fans wide and confident; its petals may fall back to earth quickly before dawn, but its essence lingers. The same flower, transformed but unmistakably familiar, will greet eyes, though briefly, once again
    Read Review

  17. 8.0 |   Mojo

    A remarkably unified - and gloriously intriguing - piece of work. Print edition only

  18. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    After losing their frontman, the band’s third studio album shows how resilient and adaptable they are, with luscious melodies, fantastical lyrics and lots of recorders
    Read Review

  19. 7.5 |   Pitchfork

    After several years of lineup and repertoire changes, the UK group returns with an ambitious and unabashedly twee album overflowing with baroque flourishes and communal spirit
    Read Review

  20. 7.0 |   Uncut

    Songcraft conventions - choruses, recurring riffs - are daringly absent. On repeat listens, though, the meandering strands - from the dreamy acoustica of "Two Horses" and choral harmonies on "Mary" to the Philip Glass-like horns of "Nancy Takes The Night" - begin to stick, aided by frequently arresting lyrics. Print edition only

  21. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    Black Country New Road’s new LP embraces ornate baroque pop, shifting from raw intensity to intricate melancholy. Brilliant yet overstuffed, it rewards patience
    Read Review

  22. 6.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    While technically impressive, Forever Howlong most often comes off like music school playtime, effortful and failing to take root in the mind like the band’s earlier work
    Read Review

  23. 5.6 |   Sputnik Music (staff)

    All in all, Forever Howlong feels like a missed opportunity. There are enough good bits to show that the band are as capable as ever of crafting a spellbinding moment, but there’s a frustrating lack of direction or commitment that prevents these moments from ever coalescing
    Read Review


blog comments powered by Disqus

Watch it

Roll over video for more options

Hear it

Latest Reviews

More reviews