In a span of less than a year, Black Country, New Road are back with their second album. Ants From Up There isn't small in scope, it's huge. How the band perfects the youthful longing of love through cohesive, massive, and cinematic instrumentals is such a stunning spectacle. It's a future cult classic if it isn't already.
This recently formed English collective of seven young musicians seem to be working nonstop. It's crazy to think that the group's excellent debut album, For the first time, came out less than a year before they've put together a new follow up album already. The buzz has certainly not died down and expectedly so; Black Country, New Road is an incredibly talented group that not simply stand out from the UK post punk categorization they've been quickly pigeonholed in by critics. The band seem to be changing with every song, every show, and every second. Bringing in this unique cacophony of genres ranging from freeform jazz to post rock to noisy garage rock, along with Issac Wood's eerie voice and off kilter lyricism, you've got an unpredictably original group you want to keep tabs on for years to come.
A lot has happened recently that needs to be brought up before we get into the band's second album, Ants From Up There. Just days before the new album's release, singer, songwriter, and frontman Issac Wood decided to leave the band entirely due to having mental challenges that are forcing his abilities to play guitar and sing at the same time to be too difficult to do successfully. This is not only shocking but is truly heartbreaking news and I do wish him all the best and the help he needs. The band did say that they will continue without him and many fans, like myself, have a ton of questions on what the group will sound like on future records to come. Now focusing on the review, Ants From Up There is Issac Wood's final contribution with the band and that will change perspective on the listener for sure. Wood certainly goes out with a bang on this record while the rest of the members truly give off the energy and patience of a band that is years into their career. Conceptually, stylistically, instrumentally, and literally everything else... Ants From Up There is Black Country, New Road on an unforeseen level, blowing away expectations. It is tighter, stronger, more cohesive, memorable, and all around better than the band's breakout debut album. It's miles ahead of its predecessor and that's saying a lot considering that these two records span less than a year from each other. Just to clarify, I'm not knocking the debut at all. It's one of the best albums from last year; it's just that the improvements in between is shockingly mature and impressive for such a young band.
When hearing For the first time, there's definitely a sense of playfulness to it where they're kind of just goofing around and trying new things. With Ants From Up There, you're getting a much more serious record with longer runtimes, smoother transitions, a consistent sound palette, and patient buildups with rewarding payoffs. here's a certain combination of youthful collective energy that you can only pull off with an interconnected group of people. It's quite reminiscent of early Arcade Fire records like the classic indie rock Funeral album. At just an hour in length from start to finish, you'll find some songs ranging as short interludes to massive tracks that sprawl out at seven, nine or even twelve and a half minutes in length. It's no instant listening experience for the casual fan. Sure, there's the explosively epic three minute lead single "Chaos Space Marine" and the somber two minute jazzy interlude "Mark's Theme," but outside of that you're getting these intensely long, thematic, and gorgeously riveting monsters. The album itself is full of emotion and intensity. It's dark, sad and brooding but there are euphoric moments that shine like a ray of sunlight when needed. Like the previous album, there is a glowing youthful energy that radiates throughout and even more so. There is an explosively jazzy and hypnotic intro that glides into "Chaos Space Marine," one of the album and band's best tracks. The song acts as a massive anthem and a fantastic introduction for what's to come.
"Concorde," another single leading up towards the album's release, is another glorious moment, this time of a romantic yearning for love and pining for someone. The twinkling guitars and reassuring saxophones are very reliable and familiar. The lyrics are very unique as well comparing love to being on a Concorde airliner. Wood does come up with these intriguing comparisons and connections in such a unique way and he continues to do so here. The pianos, saxophone, guitars, and drumming explode into a crashing rewarding finish. Much of this record is comforting, genuine, and emotionally potent, reminiscent of the classic emo rock of the past a la American Football's 1999 debut album. There's for sure a sense of familiarity when you hear this record, much more so than they've ever presented. The album's next song, "Bread Song," is yet another stunning moment (it just keeps getting more and more stunning from here, kids). The song has a very sparse with a sole guitar and vocals for the majority of the track, then picks up with perky percussion and groove and moving vocals over rich strings and horns. It's definitely one of the more emotionally captivating moments on the record.
"Good Will Hunting," titled after the 1997 movie of the same name, has a playful guitar groove and instrumental that is a nice pick me up after the previous track. It's another explosive moment of youthful longing for love where the interest is not responding to his texts and comparing her style to Billie Eilish's (a lyrical gem). "Haldern" is a beautiful piano driven ballad that has some stunning strings and saxophone that sway back and forth innocently like Isaac Wood's yearning croon. The song is an out of body experience like to another planet or to a heavenly state with Wood illustrating his romantic interest floating above into heaven. "The Place Where He Inserted the Blade" is my favorite on the entire album and is one of the tightest and well performed songs from the band and from Issac Wood himself vocally and lyrically, focusing on healing from nostalgic childhood injuries and the togetherness of being with your loved one. The song's final moments are some of the few cheery and joyful glee that the band have successfully strived for. The vocals and music on this song come together in the most genuine way they've attempted thus far.
The album closes with two monsters, the nine minute "Snow Globes" and the twelve plus minute "Basketball Shoes." Both are excellent album highlights and of course, patience testing. "Snow Globes" acts almost like a proper conclusion with somber guitars horns and sax that close out in cinematic post rock fashion, like an ending to a Sigur Rós record. "Basketball Shoes" acts like a surprise ending, as if the "the end" of a movie is premature. It has many parts, starting out slow and intense to an ending where it sounds as if the world is falling apart, where all of the instruments come crashing down like one massive fiery meteor.
I know I've kept you for while dear reader, so to sums things up, this album is quite an amazing one. It's truly incredible to see this band go from their already impressive debut to such an impressive sophomore album to a massive level. Like, potentially a classic level. I'm sure a lot of people are already considering that. Black Country, New Road have really melded these two already well established genres, emo and post rock (and also indie rock), into one refreshing, exciting, and incredible new experience. Two genres that seem to clash on paper but on record, it comes together seamlessly. It's like if American Football, Arcade Fire and Godspeed You! Black Emperor decided to make a record together. How crazy is that! So yeah, I'm pretty blown away by this album and you should be as well if you've heard it. How the band perfects the youthful longing of love through cohesive, massive, and cinematic instrumentals is such a stunning spectacle. It absolutely sucks to be reminded that Issac Wood will no longer be with them in the future but boy did they give him a send off. Ants From Up There isn't small in scope, it's huge. Give it a listen and let those massive crescendos pay off. It's a future cult classic if it isn't already.
My Rating: 9 / 10
Favorite Songs: "The Place Where He Inserted the Blade," "Chaos Space Marine," "Concorde," "Bread Song," "Good Will Hunting," "Haldern," "Basketball Shoes"
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