Jaded old punk heads may be shocked not only by the return of legends Shudder to Think, but also that they've covered Depeche Mode on their latest EP. Leave it to one of the boldest Dischord bands to deliver one of the best musical surprises in the grim barrens of 2026.
Craig Wedren, Nathan Larson, and Adam Wade (members from the classic Pony Express Record [1994]-era iteration of the band), are here, with Clint Walsh on guitar and Jherek Bischoff on bass. This 2026 version of Shudder to Think has the same sort of spark that we've come to expect from harDCore's true iconoclasts. Following a recent vinyl single, this new digital EP features three cuts of sinewy post-punk.
Shudder to Think always seemed like a band never content to stay within the borders of this city's punk orthodoxy, so a Depeche Mode cover makes perfect sense. "Something to Do", from Depeche Mode's 1984 breakthrough Some Great Reward is here given a dose of furious energy. The cut roars behind Wedren's commanding vocals, and it reveals that this band's fire has not diminished in the slightest in their time away.
And the good news is that they are recording a full album already!
Who Sent You? by Shudder to Think is out now via Dischord Records. Details below.
[Photo: Diona Mavis]