Forever Howlong
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:57:36 PM Wikipedia source
Forever Howlong is the third studio album by the 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). Work on the album began without a clear direction before the band settled on a more cohesive sound. The album was produced by James Ford and saw band members experimenting with new instruments, such as recorders. The opening track "Besties" was released as a lead single in promotion of the album, followed by "Happy Birthday", and finally "For the Cold Country" before its release. The album was teased with a series of billboards. The album was released to critical acclaim, with critics describing the album as more accessible and uplifting in contrast to their previous albums. A tour in support of the album began on 7 April, and is scheduled to conclude on 4 March 2026.
Infobox
Released
4 April 2025 (2025-04-04)
Recorded
2024
Studio
Angelic, Halse
Genre
Alternative rock indie rock folk progressive rock baroque pop
Length
52:10 (Standard) 56:44 (Japanese)
Label
Ninja Tune
Producer
James Ford
Tables
Professional ratings · Critical reception
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
8.1/10
Metacritic
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
83/100
Review scores
Review scores
Aggregate scores
Review scores
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
Clash
Clash
Aggregate scores
Clash
Aggregate scores
9/10
DIY
DIY
Aggregate scores
DIY
Aggregate scores
Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Aggregate scores
Exclaim!
Aggregate scores
8/10
The Guardian
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
The Guardian
Aggregate scores
The Line of Best Fit
The Line of Best Fit
Aggregate scores
The Line of Best Fit
Aggregate scores
9/10
Mojo
Mojo
Aggregate scores
Mojo
Aggregate scores
NME
NME
Aggregate scores
NME
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
7.5/10
Uncut
Uncut
Aggregate scores
Uncut
Aggregate scores
7/10
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10 |
| Metacritic | 83/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Clash | 9/10 |
| DIY | |
| Exclaim! | 8/10 |
| The Guardian | |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10 |
| Mojo | |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 7.5/10 |
| Uncut | 7/10 |
Chart performance for Forever Howlong · Charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (2025)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
22
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (2025)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2025)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peakposition
69
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
53
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2025)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
16
Irish Albums (OCC)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Irish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (2025)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
31
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Chart (2025)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Peakposition
75
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
3
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
3
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
1
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (2025)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
135
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
29
| Chart (2025) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 22 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 32 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 69 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 53 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 16 |
| Irish Albums (OCC) | 38 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 31 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) | 75 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 3 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 3 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 135 |
| US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard) | 29 |
References
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- Rolling Stone UKhttps://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/black-country-new-road-interview-forever-howlong-49112/
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/features/interview/black-country-new-road-album-forever-howlong/
- Exclaim!https://exclaim.ca/music/article/black-country-new-road-share-long-awaited-new-record-forever-howlong
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- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/features/music-features/black-country-new-road-interview-besties-forever-howlong-3835803
- "Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road | Album Review"https://www.allmusic.com/album/forever-howlong-mw0004467113
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/reviews/album/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-review-3851100
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong/
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/black-country-new-road-share-jubilant-single-besties-and-announce-new-album-forever-howlong-along-with-2025-uk-and-european-tour-3833203
- Under the Radarhttps://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/forever_howlong_black_country_new_road
- Rolling Stone UKhttps://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-album-review-49192/
- The Line of Best Fithttps://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-messy-human-triumph
- Stereogumhttps://www.stereogum.com/2302776/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-interview/interviews/footnotes-interview/
- DIYhttps://diymag.com/review/album/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/03/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-review
- Exclaim!https://exclaim.ca/music/article/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-album-review
- Clashhttps://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong/
- Exclaim!https://exclaim.ca/music/article/black-country-new-road-are-teasing-something
- The Line of Best Fithttps://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/black-country-new-road-tease-new-single-besties
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/black-country-new-road-announce-new-single-besties-and-tease-new-album-with-interactive-billboards-across-london-3831772
- DIYhttps://diymag.com/news/black-country-new-road-new-album-forever-howlong
- The Faderhttps://www.thefader.com/2025/01/30/black-country-new-road-new-album-forever-howlong-besties-2025-tour-dates
- DIYhttps://diymag.com/news/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong-happy-birthday
- Our Culturehttps://ourculturemag.com/2025/03/03/black-country-new-road-drop-new-single-happy-birthday/
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-black-country-new-road-new-song-for-the-cold-country/
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/black-country-new-road-share-jubilant-single-besties-and-announce-new-album-forever-howlong-along-with-2025-uk-and-european-tour-3833203
- Louderhttps://www.loudersound.com/news/this-song-was-love-at-first-harpsichord-black-country-new-road-return-with-video-for-brand-new-single-besties
- Rolling Stone Australiahttps://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/black-country-new-road-australia-and-new-zealand-tour-82532/
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/news/geese-turnstile-oklou-releasing-rough-trade-exclusive-vinyl-records/
- "Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road"http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/14267/Black-Country-New-Road-Forever-Howlong.aspx
- "Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road"https://www.metacritic.com/music/forever-howlong/black-country-new-road
- Mojohttps://archive.org/details/mojo-may-2025/page/84/mode/2up
- Uncuthttps://archive.org/details/uncut-magazine-april-2025/page/n27/mode/2up
- musicOMHhttps://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/black-country-new-road-forever-howlong
- Pastehttps://www.pastemagazine.com/music/black-country-new-road/black-country-new-road-watch-their-past-detonate-on-the-stunning-gentle-forever-howlong
- Our Culturehttps://ourculturemag.com/2025/04/08/album-review-black-country-new-road-forever-howlong/
- BEATINK.COMhttps://www.beatink.com/products/detail.php?product_id=14665
- Black Country New Roadhttps://black-country-new-road.myshopify.com/products/forever-howlong-collectors-edition-2lp
- Forever Howlong
- "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart"https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2025-04-14
- "Austriancharts.at – Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2025.https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Country,+New+Road&titel=Forever+Howlong&cat=a
- "Ultratop.be – Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2025.https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Country,+New+Road&titel=Forever+Howlong&cat=a
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 April 2025.https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Country,+New+Road&titel=Forever+Howlong&cat=a
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 Ahttps://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-549321
- "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/20250411/ie7502/
- "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart"https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2025-04-11
- "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 15 de 2025"https://audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2025-04-17-11-38-40.pdf
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20250411/40/
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20250411/7502/
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2025.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20250411/131/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2025-04-19/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/charts/top-rock-alternative-albums/2025-04-19/