The single was released on June 16, 2015 though Jacob Bannon of Converge's label Deathwish Inc.,[2] who also contributed to the album's artwork and packaging.

[3] The theme of "Year of the Hare" is "time, and becoming lost in it"[4] and the lyrics make several references to rabbits, which are meant to be a "symbol for how little tasks and stresses seem to overpopulate our senses in daily life.

"[3] Fucked Up teased the single by premiering its 8-minute-long B-side track "California Cold" for online streaming two months ahead of release on April 20, 2015.

[5] On June 3, 2015, the band released an interactive music video for "Year of the Hare" co-created by Fucked Up and Canadian actor/musician Trevor Blumas (Warehouse 13, Twice in a Lifetime, Ice Princess).

[3] Fucked Up guitarist Mike Haliechuk said the song is composed of audio loops, and the video in both theme and delivery reinforce this idea.