Sixteen years on from Conditions, The Temper Trap proved they can still make a London crowd soar. Returning to the O2 Forum Kentish Town after a long absence from UK stages, the Australian four-piece delivered a set that balanced nostalgia with fresh intent — a love letter to the city that helped them break through and a promise of what’s yet to come.
The Temper Trap @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
The night began almost imperceptibly, a wash of synths and glistening guitars hinting at the unmistakable melody of Sweet Disposition, buried deep in the mix — a tease of what everyone knew was waiting at the end. As Toby Dundas’s drums snapped to life, Love Lost took over, its euphoric pulse instantly reigniting the bond between band and audience. “Come on, London!” frontman Dougy Mandagi called, clapping above his head and urging the crowd to follow suit in the song’s dying moments. The feeling was mutual: The Temper Trap were home.
Without pause, Fader — another gem from their 2009 debut — pulsed through the Forum, bassist Jonathon Aherne bounding about the stage to in his trademark energetic style. The band’s chemistry felt effortless, the years apart melting away as they locked into Alive from 2016’s Thick As Thieves, Mandagi’s falsetto cutting through its driving rhythm and bass.
“London, how are you doing?” Mandagi yelled with a grin. “We are The Temper Trap, thank you so much!” He barely had time to breathe before introducing Lucky Dimes, a machine-driven, hypnotic track from their forthcoming LP. Its mechanical rhythm and ominous bass hum filled the room before Mandagi’s jangly guitar shifted gears into grittier territory — a sign of the bolder, darker sound to come.
The Temper Trap @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
The set’s emotional core came with Trembling Hands, the 2012 single sung back at full volume by a crowd who clearly hadn’t forgotten. “We’ve been writing some new songs, guys,” Mandagi teased next, “we’re gonna try them out tonight.” New cut Slide brought that familiar falsetto to a lush, layered arrangement — unmistakably Temper Trap, but refreshed and expansive.
The band followed with Rabbit Hole, a showcase of Mandagi’s vocal power, and then a surprise cover: Moby’s Extreme Ways. It shouldn’t have worked — but it did. The room erupted, the crowd bouncing as Mandagi’s voice transformed the electronic classic into an anthemic rock moment.
New tracks These Arms and Into The Wild hinted at a band in creative resurgence. The former’s rousing chorus and Dundas’s relentless drumming all but guaranteed it a future singalong status, while the latter’s brooding slow-burn mesmerized. Between them, Resurrection and Science Of Fear returned to Conditions, the latter igniting a mass chant of “Breaks on, breaks on!” as clapping hands echoed off the walls. The main set closed with Drum Song, that instrumental powerhouse from Conditions, Mandagi grabbing a pair of sticks to duel with Dundas in a percussive frenzy that left the Forum buzzing.
The Temper Trap @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
When the band re-emerged for the encore, the cheers were deafening. “Laaandaan,” Mandagi drawled with affection, “this always feels like a second home to us, because we moved here to make it in the music biz 16 years ago.” The crowd roared their approval. Aherne took over the mic: “We are an Aussie band, but you guys supported us first — you brought us in.” Mandagi smiled. “We’re an Australian band — just FYI — but it’s funny, they didn’t really care about us until you guys. So thank you.”
Then came the quiet beauty of Soldier On, its slow build shimmering into catharsis, before those instantly recognisable opening chords of Sweet Disposition drew a sea of camera phones into the air. The euphoric chorus reverberated through the Forum — part anthem, part shared memory — before final closer Giving Up Air drifted into the night, a gentle exhale after a show that reminded everyone why The Temper Trap still matter.
After nearly two decades, the band’s magic hasn’t dulled — it’s evolved. The Temper Trap may have been gone too long, but in London, they remain utterly at home.
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The Temper Trap @ O2 Forum Kentish Town (Kalpesh Patel)
Live review & photography of The Temper Trap @ O2 Forum Kentish Town, London by Kalpesh Patel on 2nd November 2025.
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