Black Country New Road's 'Ants from Up There' made me cry, here's why...

Written by Jess McCallum

Black Country New Road are a band from Cambridge. Confusing, right? Found originally under the name ‘Nervous Conditions’, the band broke up after a series of sexual assault allegations were released against former frontman, Connor Browne. Since then, the band reformed under the name ‘Black Country New Road’, introducing Issac Wood as their frontman.

Black Country New Road’s ‘Ants from Up There’ explores a unique side of rock and roll. Showcasing a flamboyant, emotive approach reminiscent of Queen. Not in its sound, necessarily, but in the emotions it produces.

Intro and Chaos Space machine, for instance, set an incredibly powerful tone for the album. A man speaks with optimism only found in the feeling of desperation, repeating ‘I’m coming home’ with more and more urgency as the song progresses. The croaky vocals of lead singer Issac Wood capture this desperation perfectly. During the recording of the album, he was dealing with significant mental health issues and left the band; this fourth album gives us a powerful insight into his state of mind at the time.

Concorde highlights this desperation further, exploring his relationship with death. ‘Concord this organ, this new one I’m forming, by the morning I’d fallen to my feet, and the doctor said, "We are unfortunately, running out of options to treat"'. These lyrics, amongst a slow build-up of vocals and instruments, represent the growing uncertainty the character is experiencing.

It’s important to note that the music video shows images of war. And as such, we see insight into the traditional representation of PTSD. “The staircase only leads to old pictures of you, through a thousand-mile tube”, explores the complex relationship survivors can have with their trauma by analogising a feeling of being trapped in a state of mind or time. The music video touches upon this, showcasing a soldier in the shadow of his sunlit home, while he faces military Concordes ahead of him. Despite his efforts to return home, he is pushed towards 'Concorde' by a fellow soldier.

This album is an open and raw portrayal of an often-overlooked subject. The lyricism, combined with an incredibly emotive, whimsical backing track, makes for a Brother's Grim-esque album.

10/10.

In memory of Paul Wellington.