Hannah’s Take
Matt introduced me to Black Country, New Road when they dropped their debut album, For the First Time in 2021. Here we are exactly one year later: a new album released among news of their lead singer, Isaac Wood, leaving the band. Disappointing news, especially since his performance on Ants from Up There might be the best thing about it.
Black Country, New Road have served up a true masterpiece with this album (though it’s a bit outside of my personal taste in music), one that might be even better than their noteworthy debut. After an initial listen, I’m most impressed with the cohesion that lasts the album’s nearly full hour. Each song is exciting and manages to build atop the previous track. I get the impression that the band spent quite a lot of time mapping the record out, something I really appreciate as a listener.
Wood’s voice offers great contrast to the eclectic music present on each track. And with a handful of lengthy songs, a steady vocal presence is definitely needed. While they say the drums are the heartbeat of every song, I think Ants from Up There offers several exceptions. Wood is a steady beacon of light: vocals sturdy enough to keep you composed when you aren’t sure where each track will take you.
I also appreciated the vocal-free pause offered up by “Mark’s Theme.” This plus “Intro” balance out the jazzy, emotional numbers and allow listeners to really think and process the art that is Ants from Up There. Music like this is hard to come by, so when you do stumble upon it, you’ll need ample time to soak it all in.
I’m not sure what the future holds for Black Country, New Road now that Wood is no longer the frontman. While the remaining members of the group maintain that they’ve been making new tunes, it’s hard to say if the band will remain the enigmatic force we saw with the release of For the First Time. Regardless, I’m happy they left us all with one final testimony of their unique, playful sound.
Three Standout Tracks: “Bread Song,” “Haldern,” and “The Place Where He Inserted the Blade”
Rating: 8.8/10