An anthem for anyone who’s ever faked ‘I’m fine.’

Following their extensive touring and the deluxe edition of Expert in a Dying Field (2023), The Beths return with Straight Line Was A Lie, an emotionally raw and introspective album that marks a new chapter for the band. Now signed to ANTI- Records, The Beths channel lead singer Liz Stokes’ personal journey through illness, medication and nonlinear healing into a collection of songs that explore the complexities of recovery and emotional resilience.

The album’s title confronts the myth of linear progress in healing — acknowledging that recovery often involves loops, setbacks and plateaus rather than a simple forward trajectory. Stokes has openly discussed how mental health, physical wellness and emotional growth require ongoing maintenance rather than a clear finish line.

Two standout tracks perfectly illustrate the album’s themes: “Metal” is a haunting meditation on living inside a fragile, failing body. Stokes uses vivid imagery to express the loneliness of internalized pain and the facade of “I’m fine” that isolates us from others. With bright, jangly instrumentation contrasting its heavy subject matter, “Metal” is both intimate and sonically uplifting — a testament to resilience amid vulnerability.

Meanwhile, “No Joy” confronts emotional numbness post-recovery, capturing the bewildering space where you’re technically “better” but still feel disconnected from happiness. Its upbeat pop-rock sound belies lyrics about anhedonia, the pressure to feel joy and the quiet despair of feeling stuck in limbo. This honest tension between surface and self is a recurring motif throughout the album.

Stokes’ songwriting was deeply shaped during periods of health challenges — Graves’ disease and SSRI treatment — which influenced the album’s lyrical focus on emotional detachment, family dynamics and the struggle to maintain well-being.

Musically, the album continues The Beths’ signature blend of catchy melodies, jangly guitars and tight harmonies, but with a more reflective, nuanced tone that balances hope with candidness.

Currently, The Beths are touring internationally, showcasing Straight Line Was A Lie live across the UK, Europe, North America and beyond. With this album, they prioritize mental health, sustainability and honest storytelling, signaling an exciting and authentic new era for the band.

Straight Line Was A Lie is a powerful exploration of healing’s messy reality — how getting better doesn’t always mean feeling better, and how showing up and maintaining is its own kind of strength. The Beths deliver an album that is both sonically bright and emotionally complex, reaffirming their place as one of indie rock’s most thoughtful and honest voices.