2022 was a wild ride for Black Country, New Road. Issac Wood, their lead singer and guitarist, publicly announced he was leaving the group four days before the February release of their superb sophomore album Ants From Up There. The ensuing tour was cancelled. The rest of the band decided to stay together and write new music while saying they would not perform live any material from Wood's tenure. A summer tour commenced with said new tunes and the year culminated in three concerts mid-December, filmed by the band, each one to a different costumed theme, seemingly unrelated other than "why the hell not," but nearly identical in setlist, which would become Live at Bush Hall released last week.

For a group that lost its lead singer, the album is a demonstration of how the show can go on without requiring reinvention or any new members. Three of those remaining trade turns on vocals and Live at Bush Hall is less an attempt to make a sequel of Ants From Up There, more a coherent progression despite the void left in Wood's wake. It's like running into a friend you haven't seen in a while and they've got a new haircut. You immediately recognize them, it takes your brain a moment to process, but you're glad they're there.