-
10.0
140794
10.0 |
DIY
A jubilant rebirth
Read Review
-
10.0
140822
10.0 |
Dork
They’ve navigated seismic changes and delivered music that feels both radically new and deeply authentic
Read Review
-
9.5
140795
9.5 |
Northern Transmissions
Brims with youth, wisdom, and courage
Read Review
-
9.0
140812
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
-
9.0
140819
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
-
9.0
140820
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
-
9.0
140789
9.0 |
musicOMH
Their first without singer Isaac Wood packs accessible sounds without sacrificing the band’s musical wizardry
Read Review
-
9.0
140845
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
-
9.0
140847
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
An album that’s messy, incohesive, and purely, beautifully human
Read Review
-
8.3
140918
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
-
8.0
140901
8.0 |
The Arts Desk
Forever Howlong is an ambitious reinvention that both captivates and, at times, frustrates
Read Review
-
8.0
140830
8.0 |
NME
The London sextet return with their long-awaited third studio album – and they’ve still got it
Read Review
-
8.0
140843
8.0 |
The FT
The sextet shift towards baroque pop in their first studio record since frontman Isaac Wood’s departure
Read Review
-
8.0
140844
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
-
8.0
140790
8.0 |
The Skinny
Forever Howlong proves that the possibilities for Black Country, New Road remain endless
Read Review
-
8.0
140791
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
-
8.0
140792
8.0 |
Mojo
A remarkably unified - and gloriously intriguing - piece of work. Print edition only
-
8.0
140802
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
-
7.5
140872
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
-
7.0
140793
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
-
6.0
140886
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
-
6.0
140962
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
-
5.6
140874
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
-