Black Country, New Road make their long-awaited return with the announcement of their third studio album 'Forever Howlong', set for release on the 4th April via Ninja Tune. This marks their first studio release since 2022’s 'Ants From Up There', which reached #3 on the UK charts and solidified the band’s status as one of the most forward-thinking acts in contemporary music.
Building upon the Mercury Prize-shortlisted 'For the First Time' and 2023’s 'Live at Bush Hall', the band now usher in yet another evolution. 'Forever Howlong' was produced by James Ford (Fontaines D.C., Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Blur) and presents a radically new era for BC,NR, with vocal duties and much of the songwriting now shared by Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw.
“It created a real through line for the album, having three girls singing,” says Ellery. “It’s definitely very different to Ants From Up There, because of the female perspective—and the music we’ve made also complements that.”
Alongside the album announcement, the band shares 'Besties', the expansive and joyous first single and album opener, marking the first-ever Black Country, New Road studio release to feature Georgia Ellery on lead vocals. The track embodies the band’s continued evolution, offering a fresh sonic perspective and a renewed sense of exploration and urgency.
The track is accompanied by a new video, directed by Rianne White, known for her award-winning work with Young Fathers, as well as collaborations with Aurora, Kae Tempest, and Lola Young.
White shares her vision for the video, “Besties came into my world with a dance of feelings, exploring the core emotion of taking on the world, overcoming obstacles, and being with her—the bestie—again. We built a map and a sliding-doors effect narrative, fueled by the instinctual urgency of: ‘I need to be with my bestie now.’
“Knee-high in January’s jacket of mud, darkness, fields, and street corners—plus a pack of hounds—we found the beating heart of a world made better by chasing love and connection. It’s been such a pleasure. This song was love at first harpsichord!”
Watch the new video for 'Besties' in the player and see the album's full tracklisting below.
'Forever, Howlong' Tracklist:
Besties
The Big Spin
Socks
Salem Sisters
Two Horses
Mary
Happy Birthday
For the Cold Country
Nancy Tries to Take the Night
Forever Howlong
Goodbye (Don’t Tell Me)
