Forever Howlong is the third studio album by British rock band Black Country, New Road. Released on 4 April 2025 via Ninja Tune, it is their first studio album after the departure of lead vocalist Isaac Wood, with vocal and principal songwriting duties being taken over by members Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw. It serves as a follow-up to their critically acclaimed second album, Ants from Up There (2022).

Three singles preceded the album's release; "Besties", "Happy Birthday", and "For the Cold Country". Critics responded extremely positively to the album, noting its more uplifting and positive sound compared to their previous albums. It was also described as accessible and cohesive.

Five days before the release of Ants from Up There (2022), frontman Isaac Wood announced his departure from the band.^[2] Wood cited his discomfort from writing and performing songs, but stated he was still on good terms with the members of Black Country, New Road.^[2] The band refused to play their old material live, feeling that playing it would have been "strange" and "[in]appropriate", and stating it "[wasn't] even an option".^[2] To make up for the departure and to fulfill their tour dates, the band rapidly wrote and developed songs to perform live, with all members making contributions.^[3] These live tracks were compiled as a part of Live at Bush Hall (2023), which featured a notable shift in lyrics focusing on friendship rather than romance.^[4]

For Forever Howlong, the band gradually developed its tracks for a number of years, keeping their longevity in mind.^[3] The band viewed Live at Bush Hall as a necessary stepping stone, but one that lacked longevity.^[3] In an interview, Hyde stated "I just didn't want to hang out with those songs anymore. They ick me out!"^[3]

Vocal performances across Forever Howlong were taken up by Hyde, Ellery, and Kershaw. Ellery described the process in a Pitchfork interview as a "healthy competition". Hyde noted the diversity in the three's backgrounds, stating it displayed "a pretty wide spectrum of womanhood".^[4] The album was produced by James Ford in an three week period, with Ford working from 10am to 2am daily.^[5] Band member Lewis Evans described the new style of lyrics as containing a "pop mentality" which is "catchy and likeable but have a deep-set weirdness". Hyde says that while there are many "tongue-in-cheek moments" in the album, there exist plenty of "darkness within the album as well", explaining that it's much easier to be creatively dark than happy.^[6]

The band experimented with new instruments in the album, stating that they learnt the recorder in order to accompany Kershaw's piano compositions.^[4] Ellery, whose violin was crushed due to a touring accident before the recording, had added the mandolin to the record and Kershaw experimented with the harpsichord in some of the singles.^[6]

Throughout December 2024 and January 2025, teasers for Forever Howlong would appear across Black Country, New Road's mailing list and social media pages.^[7] Billboards teasing the album were placed around London, which featured artwork from the album and a date of 4 April 2025.^[8] Three of the billboards included a red button that would illuminate a star when pressed.^[9]

The first single, "Besties", was released on 30 January after being confirmed through a webpage shown after signing up for the band's mailing list.^[7] The song was accompanied by a music video directed by Rianne White.^[10] The second single, "Happy Birthday", was released on 3 March, alongside a stop-motion animation music video directed by Lesley-Anne Rose.^[11] The third and final single, "For the Cold Country", was released on 26 March 2025.^[12]

Forever Howlong was released on 4 April 2025 through Ninja Tune on 2xLP, CD and cassette.^[13] Multiple variants of the vinyl release were made available, such as a signed white label and releases with alternate artwork.^[13] Variants of both the vinyl and cassette releases dubbed the "Collector's Edition" feature alternate tracklists.^[14]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.5/10[15]
Metacritic	86/100[16]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[17]
DIY	[18]
Exclaim!	8/10[19]
The Guardian	[20]
Mojo	[21]
MusicOMH	[22]
NME	[23]
Rolling Stone UK	[24]
Uncut	7/10[25]
Under the Radar	[26]

Forever Howlong was received extremely positively by critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Forever Howlong received a rating of 86 out of 100 based on eleven critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".^[16]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Timothy Monger claimed that it was, "Just as wily and unpredictable as anything they've done before, but with the added bonus of being delivered by three distinctive voices."^[17] Sophie Vázquez of DIY praised the album's distinctness and spontaneity and wrote that it is "the band's most uplifting project to date".^[18] Will Richards writing for Rolling Stone said that Forever Howlong was a "rich and considered album that bursts with life and creativity".^[24] Marc Abbott wrote that the album is "very nearly perfect" in Under the Radar and notes how it "melds" multiple genres together.^[26] Johnny Sharp wrote in Uncut that the "meandering melodic strands" though the album's breaking of convention "begin to stick" after repeat listens.^[25]

The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis wrote that the band "[struck] an intriguing balance between winsome imagery and darker themes" with the new tone that the album took, calling it "surprising, captivating and unique".^[20] Writing for Exclaim!, Kyle Kohner said that the "calm confidence" of the album would attract new fans, but possibly alienate long-time listeners.^[19] Kohner also called it "a familiar voice in a new room".^[19] Victoria Segal of Mojo compared the band's shift in tone and vocalists to the "Grandfather's Axe paradox" for old fans.^[21] She called the album "remarkably unified" and "gloriously intriguing".^[21] Donovan Livesey of MusicOMH wrote that the three vocalists produce "striking cohesion" and called the album "meticulously detailed" and "embraces accessibility without sacrificing the band's intricacy".^[22]

• Tracks 8 through to 11 are listed in reverse order on the Collector's Edition 2LP. "Forever Howlong" is additionally split into two separate tracks.^[28]

Credits adapted from Tidal and liner notes.

Black Country, New Road

• Georgia Ellery – mandolin (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7), vocals (1, 5, 6, 11), violin (2, 3, 8–10), background vocals (4, 7, 8), recorder (10), acoustic guitar (11)
• Lewis Evans – alto saxophone (tracks 1–5, 7–11), flute (5–7, 9–11); bass clarinet, clarinet, recorder (10)
• Tyler Hyde – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, harmonium, piano, tenor recorder, vocals
• May Kershaw – background vocals (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 11), harpsichord (1, 4, 8, 11), piano (2–5, 7–9, 11), accordion (2, 8), vocals (2, 6, 8)
• Luke Mark – acoustic guitar (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 11), electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 7–9, 11), slide guitar (2), lap steel guitar (10, 11), recorder (10)
• Charlie Wayne – drums (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11), percussion (2, 4, 8), timpani (2, 4, 8), banjo (5, 6, 9, 10), recorder (10)

Additional contributors

• James Ford – production
• Luke Gibbs – engineering
• Brodie Griffin – engineering assistance
• Cass Whiley-Morton – engineering assistance
• Nathan Boddy – mixing
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Jordan Kee – artwork
• Ginny Davies – creative direction, design