There’s a difference between returning and truly coming back. Tadpole aren’t here to relive old glories or trade on nostalgia. They’ve re-emerged with purpose, sounding sharper, heavier and more certain of who they are than ever before.

Formed in Auckland in 1994, Tadpole helped define an era when New Zealand rock was loud, fearless and impossible to ignore. Their breakthrough album The Buddhafinger went triple platinum and became one of the landmark local rock releases of the early 2000s, driven by huge riffs, undeniable hooks and a live energy that connected across the country. Follow-up album The Medusa revealed a darker, more volatile edge before the band stepped away in 2006, leaving behind a catalogue that never really lost its grip.

When Tadpole returned in 2024, it quickly became clear this was more than a reunion. With Lauren Marshall joining on vocals alongside original members Chris Yong, Dean Lawton and DJ Kritikl, the band found fresh momentum and a renewed identity. Packed The Buddhafinger 25th anniversary shows saw longtime fans turn out in force, while a new generation discovered what made Tadpole such a force in the first place.

That momentum carried into 2025 with the release of George, a track that proved the band still understood the power of tension, weight and melody. It wasn’t about looking backwards; it was proof Tadpole could still make music that lands with real impact.

Live, they’ve wasted no time reclaiming their place. Performances alongside Good Charlotte, Highly Suspect and Yellowcard at the Auckland Domain, along with standout appearances at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival and Go Live Festival, have shown the live firepower remains fully intact. If anything, it now lands with more precision, confidence and intent.

Now Tadpole push forward again with their brand new single Falling Into You, released May 15. Mixed by Tiki Taane, with vocals produced by Boh Runga and mastered by Chris Chetland, the track brings fresh energy and renewed purpose while holding onto the muscular guitars, melodic urgency and unmistakable weight that have always sat at the heart of the band. It captures a group with unfinished business and real momentum. Tadpole aren’t revisiting the past - they’re building what comes next.