PET NEEDS

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘DUCKLINGS’

NEW ALBUM ELBOWS OUT! THIS IS CAPITALISM 

ON 27TH MARCH VIA XTRA MILE RECORDINGS

ANNOUNCES DECADE SERIES CD COLLECTION - PURCHASE HERE

Colchester four-piece PET NEEDS today unveil ‘Ducklings’, a high-energy, dry indie-punk anthem that critiques society’s relationship with capitalism, casting us as ducklings willingly (or unwittingly) consumed by the systems built around us. The track is the latest single from their upcoming fourth studio album ‘Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism’, out on 27th March via Xtra Mile Recordings.

“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.

Watch the video for ‘Ducklings’ HERE

Pre-order the album HERE

Purchase The Decade Series CD HERE

The album was written throughout 2025 in a busy year that saw them zig zag across the UK, US and Europe in a relentless schedule of headline tours, support tours and festivals. PET NEEDS never stay still for long, driven by their enduring pursuit of being creative, the pull of playing music and connecting with fans. But touring is also a financial necessity. Being a punk band building things up from the bottom is hard graft in an industry dominated by streaming, social media saturation and big marketing budgets.

It is fitting then that their new album tackles some of these themes head-on - a satirical look at the pitfalls of trying to make it as a DIY punk band. The album charts the exploits of the band buying a second-hand punk rock career at auction and trying (and failing) to make it work. Over the course of the genre-spanning 12 tracks, the story unfolds with a mix of frenetic punk rock defiance; reflective melodic introspection and beat heavy party anthems alongside guest appearances by CJ Ramone, legendary auctioneer Erik Olson and friends The Whops and Jess Guise whose interludes help the story develop.

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.”

It is their most creative and bold album so far. Recorded by George Perks (Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, Mogwai, Skindred) it follows the release of their Top 20 album ‘Intermittent Fast Living’ in February 2024. The band will be giving fans a chance to hear some of the album’s tracks ahead of release when they tour throughout March. Playing across the country in grassroot indie venues, the band will be performing the songs for the first time ever to introduce their fervent fan base to the new album. Dates are:

Pet Needs Live:

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

Photo credit: Vanessa Söllner

‘

Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism’ marks a decade in the life of the band. The first 5 years were more a part-time affair, with a handful of single releases and gigs in the back rooms of pubs and clubs as well as house shows and anywhere else that they could play. They signed to Xtra Mile Recordings to release their debut album ‘Fractured Party Music’ in 2021 and were catapulted into a dizzying touring schedule that took them across the UK, Europe and United States. And their feet haven’t touched the ground since. Second album ‘Primetime Entertainment’ quickly followed in 2022 and third album ‘Intermittent Fast Living’ in 2024 which entered the UK Official Album Chart at Number 17. They’ve garnered plays from Steve Lamacq on 6Music, John Kennedy on Radio X, Kerrang! Radio, BBC Introducing Essex and Total Rock as well as performing live on The Chris McCausland Show on ITV.

Having attracted attention with their relentless live shows, PET NEEDS have toured extensively supporting Frank Turner, The Lottery Winners, The Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, Skinny Lister, The Hives, Art Brut, NOFX, The Levellers, Spike & The Gimmie and Gimmies and Laura Jane Grace. Their own headline tours in the UK have previously sold out including their annual Fractured Party Festival which took place in May 2025 at The Garage in London and The Old Church in Stoke Newington. They’ve played the Main Stage at Beautiful Days and Bearded Theory Festivals and won over fans at 2000Trees, Dot To Dot, The Salty Dog Cruise and many more.

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