New Zealand indie rock band The Beths have signed with the record label ANTI- and released their latest single, “Metal,” marking their first new music since 2023.
The track was inspired by a period of intense touring and personal struggles, including mental health challenges and multiple diagnoses for frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes. “Metal” features a jungle rock sound, a departure from their earlier work.
Stokes shared that the song reflects her personal journey, saying, “In some ways, ‘Metal’ is about being alive and existing in a human body.” She explained that the past few years have been a “health journey” for her, where she felt her body was a “vehicle” that had served her well but was now breaking down. Despite this, she remains fascinated by the complexity of the human body.
The frontwoman described the song’s arrangement as reflecting “the frenetic intricacy of an engine in action,” a sentiment that brought out the best in her bandmates. Guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck all contributed to the dynamic sound of the track.
Stokes further explained, “There was a propulsion to the acoustic strumming pattern in the original demo. Tristan’s drums fit that feeling perfectly, like a train moving along the tracks. Jonathan played his Burns 12-string guitar with sparkle, and Ben, as always, added his signature energy to the bass.”
The result is a track that captures both complexity and simplicity, with “a lot going on, until there isn’t.”
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