The first new material since 2023’s Live From Bush Hall live album, Black Country, New Road return with new single “Besties” and an accompanying music video. After the 2022 exit of lead vocalist and guitarist Isaac Wood due to mental health concerns, Black Country, New Road (BC,NR) have made an impressive turnaround. Testing out new vocalists, new live material, and still touring relentlessly, “Besties” is the first studio recorded material that they have released with their new lineup. Landing on Georgia Ellery as the main vocalist for the new track, the band is back like they never left.
The new sound features the same grandiose production and cacophony of instrumentation that we have come to expect from BC,NR with a decidedly more lighthearted tone. “Besties” is about having intense unrequited feelings for a best friend. The narrator is afraid of following the feeling of being more than friends, afraid of ruining or losing the relationship altogether. The chorus expresses this perfectly: “Yeah, I know what’s expected of me / Besties, night and day / Remember when I said he shouldn’t treat you that way, and are you sure? / I know I want something more.”
The playful tune is expertly crafted, once again, and balances the feelings of hopefulness and melancholy perfectly. A song that you can laugh or cry to, “Besties” has me excited about what is still to come from Black Country, New Road.
Besties is out now on all platforms with a music video linked below. The new album, Forever Howlong, is out April 4th, 2025, via Ninja Tune. Catch BC,NR on tour in 2025 in the US, UK, EU, and Mexico.
May 3 – Ciudad De México, Mexico @ Pitchfork Music Festival CDMX 2025 // Tickets // RSVP
May 13 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed // RSVP
May 14 – Omaha, NE @Slowdown // RSVP
May 16 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom (w/ St. Vincent) // RSVP
May 17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party // Tickets // RSVP
May 19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory // RSVP
May 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern // RSVP
May 22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield // RSVP
May 23 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater // RSVP
May 24 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre // RSVP
EUROPE
Aug. 13 – Paredes De Coura, Portugal @ Praia fluvial do Taboão // Tickets // RSVP
Sept. 11 – Nottingham, United Kingdom @ Rock City // RSVP
Sept. 12 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ Albert Hall // RSVP
Sept. 15 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia Theatre // RSVP
Sept. 18 – Glasgow, United Kingdom @ Barrowland Ballroom // RSVP
Sept. 20 – Gateshead, United Kingdom @ The Glasshouse // RSVP
Sept. 22 – Bristol, United Kingdom @ Bristol Beacon // RSVP
Sept. 24 – Cambridge, United Kingdom @ Cambridge Corn Exchange // RSVP
Oct. 9 – Paris, France @ Casino de Paris // RSVP
Oct. 10 – Nantes, France @ Stereolux // RSVP
Oct. 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso // RSVP
Oct. 14 – Köln, Germany @ Gloria-Theater // RSVP
Oct. 15 – Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus // RSVP
Oct. 17 – København, Denmark @ VEGA // RSVP
Oct. 18 – Johanneshov, Sweden @ Fållan // Tickets // RSVP
Oct. 19 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene // RSVP
Oct. 21 – Hamburg, Germany @ Mojo Club // RSVP
Oct. 22 – Prague, Czech Republic @ ROXY Prague // RSVP
Oct. 23 – Lausanne, Switzerland @ Les Docks // RSVP
Oct. 25 – Milan, Italy @ Magazzini Generali // RSVP
Oct. 26 – Feyzin, France @ L’ Epicerie Moderne Feyzin // RSVP
Oct. 28 – Bruxelles, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique // RSVP
Oct. 30 – Brighton, United Kingdom @ Brighton Dome // RSVP
Oct. 31 – London, United Kingdom @ O2 Academy Brixton
