The Hails Take on Late-Stage Capitalism and Modern Malaise on New Album Duckpond

The Florida-born indie-rock outfit return with a 14-track sophomore album that champions human connection, creative freedom and the power of making music together in an increasingly automated world.

The Hails are back with Duckpond, a new 14-track album out now via ONErpm that puts human connection firmly ahead of machine-made perfection. Produced by Brandon Shoop (Role Model, Dijon, Junior Varsity), the record finds the band reconnecting with their roots, embracing their rock instincts and turning the frustrations of modern life into sharp, hook-heavy indie anthems.

Spread across Miami, Washington, DC and Brooklyn, the group made a deliberate move to get back in the same room, renting a house in South Florida last summer to write and record together. The aim was to recapture the spontaneous, collaborative energy of their college days in Gainesville, but with the musical maturity and production experience they've developed since. The result is a record shaped by shared ideas, live jams and the chemistry that first brought the band together.

At its heart, Duckpond wrestles with the absurdities of trying to make a living through art in 2026. From cost-of-living pressures and soul-crushing jobs to social media-fuelled alienation and the growing reach of automation, the album channels a wider sense of disillusionment without losing sight of humour, camaraderie and possibility. Its accompanying visual world even casts the band as 1930s bowling-alley pinsetters — workers displaced by technology, and an unlikely metaphor for the modern musician.

Musically, The Hails lean into their influences while pushing their sound into new territory. The moody, Fontaines D.C.-inspired ‘Digital Life’ takes aim at online disconnection, while the stomping ‘Timely’ turns its attention to predatory landlords. ‘Scampi’ skewers armchair activism, and ‘All By Design’ offers a mournful call for class solidarity. Elsewhere, the fizzy ‘Story of You and Me’ and buoyant ‘Corruptor’ explore the ups and downs of long-term relationships, while ‘Ducks on the Pond’ closes the album with a swaggering, ’90s-inspired blast aimed at the gambling industry.

Shoop helped bring the band's guitar-driven identity back into focus during sessions in Los Angeles, encouraging them to trust their instincts rather than overwork every sound on a laptop. The record still makes room for woozy R&B textures on ‘Fool’, funky swagger on ‘Scampi’ and layered vocal harmonies on ‘Corruptor’, with touchstones ranging from Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and Talking Heads to Maroon 5, D’Angelo and David Bowie.

For guitarist Dylan McCue, the album isn't simply about railing against the state of the world; it's about finding beauty in unexpected places and holding onto human connection. That spirit runs through Duckpond, a record that transforms everyday frustrations into a collective release, driven by the belief that making something together still matters.

With the band’s headline Duckpond Tour kicking off in Atlanta on 25 October, The Hails are taking that renewed sense of togetherness on the road, with dates across North America including Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Miami and Tampa.

The Hails’ Duckpond is out now via ONErpm.