Pet Needs Issue “Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism” Album

Colchester, UK quartet Pet Needs have released their fourth studio album, Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism, via Xtra Mile Recordings, 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. It is their most creative and bold album so far.

“This is an anthem for people skydiving with a dodgy second-hand parachute. A reflection on punk rock hypocrisy in an attempt to appeal to the masses. Neatly packaged with an earworm chorus, screamed backing vocals and huge guitars. We’ve just begun road-testing this tune and it’s a beast live. We’re fiercely independent and ready to make a visceral impact. It begins now! We shot the video as four continuous one shots with lots of failed attempts and a hell of a lot of luck! 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.”