Black Country, New Road release ‘Happy Birthday’ and announce Forever Howlong album and UK tour

Black Country, New Road have released their new single ‘Happy Birthday’, which comes alongside the announcement of their upcoming album Forever Howlong, due out on 4th April 2025.

The band also revealed plans for a UK tour in April 2025, where they will perform the new album in full.

The new record follows the success of their previous albums Ants From Up There and For the First Time, both of which were widely praised. Forever Howlong marks the band’s third studio album, and it promises another shift in their sound.

The album is produced by James Ford (Fontaines D.C., Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode) and features a split in vocal duties between members Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw.

‘Happy Birthday’ exemplifies the band’s evolving sound. According to Hyde, “When I wrote ‘Happy Birthday’ I had Georgia’s song ‘Besties’ in my head while I was writing it.

Therefore, the structure of it is heavily influenced by it.” The track gradually builds, featuring piano and guitar, with Hyde’s lyrics addressing generational differences. It progresses into a euphoric finale that complements the song’s reflective tone.

The new single is accompanied by a stop-motion music video directed by Lesley-Anne Rose. The video tells the story of two birds in the woods helping each other to escape hunters. Rose, who has worked on short films and music videos for artists like Kathryn Williams and Richard Dawson, brings a unique visual dimension to the song.

The band will kick off their UK tour in April 2025, with performances scheduled for Stockport, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham, Southampton, and Norwich. These intimate shows will precede the band’s upcoming US and EU tours later in the year, which include festival appearances at Pitchfork, Primavera, and Glastonbury.

With Forever Howlong, Black Country, New Road continue to explore new musical territories, blending elements of folk, prog, and alternative rock. The album’s diversity of styles is united by the band’s distinct voice and creative collaboration. The record is available for pre-order in various formats, including signed vinyl editions and a collector’s edition cassette.

For fans eager to hear the new material, Black Country, New Road’s UK tour will offer a unique opportunity to experience the album live before its official release.

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