Black Country, New Road

etoThere are essentially two versions of Black Country, New Road in terms of overall sound and intensity: The first version was led by singer/guitarist Isaac Woods until his departure in 2022, which was a fairly intense band that created anxiety-laden songs in the Slint-like post-rock style in two highly successful albums. Then there is the current one, marked by the collective effort of the remaining, immensely talented musicians who share the songwriting and vocal duties, which has led to increased variety in tone and style, a much looser overall feel and an added emphasis on composition. Their music now brings in classical elements with some classic prog overtones with their complex structures and narrative shifts, without shying away from ballads or occasional crooning.