User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
- Summary: The second full-length release for the British post-rock band Black Country, New Road is its last with frontman and co-founder Isaac Wood, who announced he was leaving the band in January 2022.
Buy Now
| Buy on |
|
- Record Label: Ninja Tune
- Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Experimental Rock
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 20 out of 20
-
Mixed: 0 out of 20
-
Negative: 0 out of 20
-
Feb 1, 2022Throughout Ants From Up There, they seem to revel in the creation of different atmospheres rather than the laying down of hooks or choruses.
-
Feb 3, 2022This singular record will remain a stunning collection to be cherished for years to come, and a remarkable high on which to end Wood’s tenure at the front of the band. It’s a future cult classic.
-
Feb 7, 2022To get the full effect, listen to the album from start to finish, over and over again. It’s a blast.
-
Jan 31, 2022This newfound willingness, even ability, to just be nakedly emotional and let the melodies lead is the best weapon this new Black Country, New Road have at their disposal. Isaac Wood, who once seemed right on the edge of slipping into complete post-ironic-irony with his spoken word drawl, sings the entire album in a delicate quaver which is a perfect fit for this new vulnerability.
-
Feb 3, 2022It's hard to be anything but impressed with what a cohesive, intentioned work they’ve created as a result. Taken on their terms, this is easily one of the most richly rewarding projects of 2022 so far.
-
Feb 4, 2022The band seems to play as a single multi-armed unit, and yet Wood's tortured voice is at the very center of their palette. Black Country made a strong impression on their debut, but things become much more interesting with Ants from Up There.
-
Feb 2, 2022Like many sophomore albums, Ants from Up There serves both as a clearing house for leftover ideas from the debut and a tentative next step in Black Country's evolution. Serving both purposes results in an album that doesn't necessarily have the same electrical charge as what came before and would benefit from a little trimming here and there. That said, the band is still inarguably one of the most exciting prospects in new music at the moment, and here, the highs are head and shoulders above the majority of their contemporaries.
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 45 out of 53
-
Mixed: 3 out of 53
-
Negative: 5 out of 53
-
Feb 7, 2022
-
-
Feb 4, 2022
-
-
Jul 28, 2022
-
-
Feb 25, 2022One of the bests albums I've ever heard. It's great to be alive and listen to this.
-
-
Feb 4, 2022An utter modern classic. Every moment crushing, lush, and memorable. Truly an effort from a hive mind of musical talent.
-
-
Feb 8, 2022
-
-
Oct 21, 2022I know one thing for sure..............................................................
-
Related Articles
-
Published: January 9, 2023Find out which 2022 movies, albums, games, and TV shows were the favorites of Metacritic users in our 13th annual poll. -
Published: December 21, 2022Here is Metacritic's final official list of the 40 best-reviewed albums released in 2022. -
Published: June 30, 2022Here are the 20 best-reviewed albums released during the first half of 2022, ranked by Metascore.