By Poppy Tohill

Artist: The Temper Trap

Date / Venue: Monday May 9th, 2016 - The Powerstation, Auckland

It may have been three years since Temper Trap's last album was released, but on the back of their latest hit single 'Fall Together,' from their forthcoming record 'Thick As Thieves,' the Melbourne rockers proved they're not ready to set their guitars down for good, just yet, as they performed a free I-Heart Radio gig at Auckland’s Powerstation, last night. 

"What's up Auckland!" lead vocalist and front man Dougy Mandagi announced, as the band took to the stage. "It has been ages since we've been here!" he continued, and that is has indeed, with their last performance on this side of the ditch being in 2012 opening for Coldplay. 

Excited to finally have some new material to show off to their fans, Temper Trap basking in this opportunity kickstarted things off with the upcoming album's title track'Thick As Thieves,' immediately displaying a high level of energy, proving that a free show or not, they were ready to party and give it their all. 

Followed by some of the groups older hits such as'Love Lost' and 'Down River' from their 2010 debut album 'Conditions,' before treating the audience to a selection of newer and yet to be released tunes, both of which received an equal and rapturous response from the audience. 

Mandagi's strong vocals backed by the impressive musicianship and skills of Joseph Greer (keys & guitar), Jonathon Aherne (bass guitar) and Toby Dundas (drums), including a touch of maraca's from Mandagi himself throughout 'Alive,' collectively revealed a heavier guitar based rock sound compared to the band’s earlier 'experimental' ways throughout the likes of their 2012 self-titled album. 

'Drum Song' proved a highlighted favourite amongst the crowd, with the addition of an impressive instrumental from Dundas, as Mandagi also took the liberty to join in banging along on a drum of his own. As the crowd cheered and clapped along at their loudest. 

Concluding their set with 'Sweet Disposition' another crowd favourite, the audience instantly burst into a chant requesting an encore, which was of course accepted minutes later as the band took to the stage one last time for a monumental encore which began with a stunning rendition of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Multi-Love.

Soon followed by their own favoured hits, 'Fall Together' and 'Science Of Fear,’  

Temper Trap certainly left the audience in a more than content state having experienced the best of both the old and the new.