London post-punk septet Black Country, New Road have released a new single entitled “Chaos Space Marine” and have announced their upcoming second album Ants From Up There, which is set to be released on February 4th, 2022 via Ninja Tune.
Ants From Up There
4th February 2022https://t.co/eoqMaO51a2 pic.twitter.com/kOHICNOHUN— BlackCountry,NewRoad (@BCNRband) October 12, 2021
According to NME, the band’s frontman, Isaac Wood, has called “Chaos Space Marine” “the best song we’ve ever written”, stating: “We threw in every idea anyone had with that song. So the making of it was a really fast, whimsical approach – like throwing all the shit at the wall and just letting everything stick.” Wood’s description of the song rings true; as the song begins, the listener is almost immediately hit with a progressive rock-esque instrumental, with different instruments dropping in and out in fleeting bursts before breaking down to a jagged staccato piano line, with Wood’s restrained narration sitting over the top, singing; “And though England is mine, I must leave it all behind.”
The track, whilst certainly not a far cry, carries a slightly different sound to the sometimes dissonant, largely guitar-driven sound of the band’s debut full-length album For The First Time, which was released earlier this year to great acclaim from both audiences and critics. The album has warranted comparison to the likes of American post-rock legends Slint for its moody guitar lines, as well as similar groups such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and fellow post-punk/experimental rock outfit Black Midi, whom Black Country, New Road regularly perform with under the name Black Midi, New Road.
Their forthcoming album Ants From Up There was recorded at Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle of Wight over the summer of this year. Bassist Tyler Hyde said of the new record, according to NME; “It was such a pleasure to make. I’ve kind of accepted that this might be the best thing that I’m ever part of for the rest of my life. And that’s fine.”
The tracklist for Ants From Up There can be viewed down below.
1). “Intro”
2). “Chaos Space Marine”
3). “Concorde”
4). “Bread Song”
5). “Good Will Hunting”
6). “Haldern”
7). “Mark’s Theme”
8). “The Place Where He Inserted The Blade”
9). “Snow Globes”
10). “Basketball Shoes”
Black Country, New Road will be embarking on a UK tour following the album’s release in February. Listed down below are the band’s remaining 2021 shows, alongside the dates for their 2022 tour. Tickets are available here.
29/11/21-Chalk-Brighton
30/11- Junction 1-Cambridge
01/12- 1865- Southampton
03/12- Arts Club,- Liverpool
04/12- Irish Centre- Leeds
06/12- O2 Ritz Manchester- Manchester
07/12- Newcastle University Union- Newcastle Upon Tyne
08/12- TV Studios (SWG3)- Glasgow
09/12-The Mill- Birmingham
10/12- The Waterfront- Norwich
12/12- SWX- Bristol
13/12-Y Plas- Cardiff
15/12- Whelan’s- Dublin
2022 TOUR
08/03/2022- Roundhouse-London
06/04-The Foundry-Sheffield
07/04- O2 Academy- Oxford
09/04- Liquid Room-Edinburgh
10/04- The Empire- Belfast
11/04- Olympia- Dublin
13/04- Albert Hall- Manchester
14/04- Rock City, Nottingham
16/04- Concorde 2- Brighton
17/04- O2 Academy- Bristol
