New Zealand indie-rock stalwarts The Beths are making bold moves, first moving to a new record label and releasing a poignant new single. Then, they go on an expansive global tour with a hefty North American leg.
The Auckland-based quartet has officially signed with ANTI-, the revered sister label to Epitaph Records. The signing marks a symbolic turning point for the band, long considered one of the most thoughtful voices in the contemporary indie scene.
Alongside this announcement, The Beths have released “Metal.” This is their first original track since the 2023 expanded edition of “Expert in a Dying Field.” The album garnered widespread acclaim and climbed to No. 6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. That deluxe release included the single “Watching the Credits.” Thus, they earned a nod of approval from President Obama, landing on his summer playlist that same year.
“Metal” arrives as a profoundly personal, sonically restrained meditation on the fragility and resilience of the human body and mind. Frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes wrote the song after relentless touring and many personal health challenges.
“In some ways, ‘Metal’ is a song about being alive and existing in a human body,” Stokes reflects. “For parts of the last few years, I kind of felt like my body was a vehicle that had carried me pretty well thus far but was breaking down⌠And yet here we are in it.”
The Beths and New Music Era
As ever, The Beths found a unique way to express vulnerability. They blend introspection with a deceptively upbeat sonic landscape, using jangly guitars. Thus expanding the range of emotions. Stokes describes the “short word” referenced in the track as shorthand for self-doubt and internal criticism. “I can reliably respond to any suggestion that I might be able to achieve any small thing with ‘no.'”If “Metal” signals what’s to come on The Beths’ anticipated fourth album, fans have every reason to be intrigued.
Beths will embark on a sweeping tour in the UK beginning this September to support the new material. The tour moves through Europe before crossing the Atlantic for a 26-date North American. The tour will run between October and November. Thanks to their energetic, airtight live performances, the band is expected to draw from their acclaimed discography and offer a glimpse of what’s next.
The Beths’ rise has been slow-burning but undeniable. Since their 2018 debut, “Future Me Hates Me.” Thus, the album earned a reputation as one of indie rock’s most emotionally resonant and technically proficient bands. So, with each release, they further cement their place on the global stage.
With a new home at ANTI-, a fresh single is already turning heads. Also, with a tour that promises to be one of the season’s highlights. The Beths are poised to make 2025 their most defining year yet.
