Released: 2022

Genres: Chamber Pop, Art Rock, Post-Rock, Indie Rock

The Musiquarium’s Ants From Up There Review Score: 4.5/5

Where Black Country, New Road’s debut album, For the First Time, had a dark and anxious atmosphere, Ants From Up There feels more rustic in sound and sanguine in tone. Instead of rehashing a similar sound, the band evolves on their sophomore record and creates a masterpiece that’s arguably more ambitious than its predecessor.

A Frank Zappa-like intro leads off into the violin-barrage of Chaos Space Marine. Concorde is a waltz that could have easily came off as schmaltzy, but is instead earnest, genuine and downright beautiful. Good Will Hunting (named after the classic Ben Affleck/Matt Damon/Robin Williams film) has a memorable Billie Eilish-referencing chorus and could have easily been a single, though it wasn’t.

The Place Where He Inserted the Blade has my vote for one of the best song titles ever, though the music itself is just as incredible. Snow Globes and Basketball Shoes are the longest songs on the album and are slow-building epics that may require patience, but are ultimately rewarding should you be able to allow them to unfold before you, like flowers blooming in the springtime.

One of the best things about Ants From Up There is how different it feels from its predecessor, but still sounds like the same band. While I do prefer their debut (if I had a gun to my head and had to choose), I’d argue that Ants From Up There is the more accomplished record of the two. This is a monumental album that is deserving of all the praise it has gotten. Ants From Up There is this generation’s Funeral.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Black Country, New Road on Discogs.

Back to the 2022 Album Guide or the Black Country, New Road Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard