Pet Needs are back with new single “Ducklings.” The track is the latest single from their upcoming fourth studio album Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism, out on March 27th via Xtra Mile Recordings. The LP was recorded by George Perks (Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, Mogwai).

“The fish at the uni eat all the ducklings. They don’t put that on the prospectus.” the chorus chants, “…There’s nearly no-one left to protect us” – a bleakly comic metaphor for a system that feeds on the vulnerable whilst pretending everything is fine: the fish get fatter, while the ducklings struggle to keep their heads above water.

We’re lied to every day to monetise our attention in a world that has become hyper-individualist. Everyone’s a broadcaster; every social media profile a channel. The planet is on fire, but with the right setting on your phone camera it can look like a beautiful sunset,” the band states.

This whole tune was written the hour after my wife Lorna told me the fish at the local uni keep eating all the ducklings. By the time she dropped me at my brother’s house to demo, we had the chorus.

George got working on a big, chonky riff as I sat downstairs scribbling words. My favourite songs are the instantaneous ones. You can feel the energy like no other.”

In addition to this new album, the band is celebrating ten years of their career with the exclusive Decade Series. 12 CDs each include the full album plus a bonus demo version of one of the tracks, giving fans a glimpse into the early creative process. Each CD also features original new artwork, including archival photos from the corresponding year and a detailed timeline on the back, tracing the band’s journey over the decade. For the ultimate collector, all 12 CDs in the series are available together, housed in a sleek, exclusive matt-black box.

Johnny Marriott (vocalist) explains further: “There has to be a reason why people continue to pursue creative careers when on paper the industry is built to break them. The power of the present – the writing, the shows, and the human connection – supersedes it all. Being a musician right now is an act of defiance. Even with artificial intelligence and late capitalism doing everything they can to force our hands, we won’t stop. We wanted to make an album that people would love to listen to all the way through, so we decided to tell a story. Each member brought their own flair to this record. It feels vital. We’re really proud of it.”

Pet Needs 2026 Tour Dates

03/03 – Barnoldswick, Music and Arts Centre
04/03 – Sheffield, Corporation
05/03 – Norwich, The Salty Dog
07/03 – Barnsley, The Underground
10/03 – Nantwich, Applestump Records
12/03 – Wolverhampton, The Giffard
13/03 – Blackpool, Compass Cafe
15/03 – Colchester, The Victoria Inn
18/03 – Exeter, Bomba
19/03 – Bideford, The Palladium Club
20/3 – Milton Keynes, The Craufurd Arms
21/03 – Norwich, Waterfront Studio
22/03 – Sittingbourne, The Swale Assembly

pre-order Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism by Pet Needs HERE