Sarah Shook & The Disarmers aren't in the music business for the glitz or glamour. For them, it’s all about the music and the integrity within it. Hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the country-punk outfit is all about the raw, unfiltered truth. As Shook puts it, "Songwriting is it for me. It's the only real healthy coping mechanism I've ever had."

The new album, Revelations, eschews the diligent studio production of their previous one, Shook and company opting for a more direct approach to capture the essence of their live performances in a blistering two-day recording session. The result is ten tracks of unapologetically honest storytelling, reflecting Shook's most in-your-face lyrics yet. From the precariousness of navigating mental health under capitalism in the title track to the complexities of workplace relationships in "Backsliders," each song offers a glimpse into the lives of real people with real struggles, and real dreams.

But Revelations isn't just about hardship and strife, it's also a story of fighting through it to acceptance. Take the closing track, "Criminal," described by Shook as their "gay cowboy song." It's a moving ode to queer love, highlighting the emotional complexities inherent in all human relationships. For Shook, each album represents a personal evolution, a before-and-after if you will. "Every time I make a record, I want to be able to listen to it and look back on who I was then," they explain. "I want to see this arc and this evolution. That's really important to me."