Hamilton’s Dave New World take a bold detour with their latest single—a slow-burning, emotionally raw cover of Mad World. Best known for their driving punk sound, the band dials things back here, layering guitars and vocals into a brooding, atmospheric version of the Tears for Fears classic. It’s the third single off their run with People of Punk Rock Records, and it hits different—in all the right ways.
Where the original leaned on synth-pop melancholy, Dave New World bring it closer to the chest: deliberate pacing, heavy tone, and a sharp undercurrent of anxiety. It’s not just a faithful nod—it’s a full reinterpretation that fits seamlessly alongside their own material like Deadbeat Parade and No Friends.
This cover shows a band willing to shift gears without losing their edge. Mad World trades speed for space and lands with even more weight. With an album on the horizon and growing attention from the Canadian punk scene, Dave New World prove again they’re not here to play it safe.
