Urban Rituals Turn Up The Heat With After Burn

By Chris Kennedy | Published 29th August, 2026

There’s something exciting happening in Dublin’s alternative rock scene, and Urban Rituals are a band worth keeping an eye on.

Formed in 2025, the Dublin four-piece have already begun carving out their own space by combining 90s-inspired shoegaze textures, electronic production, atmospheric noise and dream-pop melodies. The band is led by producer and multi-instrumentalist Shane Horgan, formerly of Wolfen, alongside guitarist Paulo Abdalla, drummer Daniel Noonan of Between//Roads and bassist Vinny Murphy.

It’s a combination that gives Urban Rituals plenty of room to experiment, but their latest single, After Burn, makes it clear that there’s a considerably heavier side to the band.

The band first introduced themselves earlier this year with their debut single, Conniption, a track built around an atmospheric synth line that eventually crashes into a wall of heavy guitars. With After Burn, however, Urban Rituals push the volume and intensity even further.

After Burn Is A Dark And Immersive Alternative Rock Track

From the opening seconds, After Burn pulls you straight into its world.

Layers of distorted and swirling guitar effects create a huge, immersive soundscape before a hypnotic riff with unmistakable 90s alternative and shoegaze tones takes hold. That riff becomes one of the track’s defining features, repeatedly returning throughout the song and giving everything a strong sense of momentum.

Underneath it all, the bass and drums provide the muscle.

The rhythm section acts as the aggressive, grounding spine of the track, giving After Burn its punch while allowing those layers of guitar and noise to build around it. There’s plenty of energy here, but the production never loses sight of the atmospheric qualities that are becoming part of Urban Rituals’ identity.

The result is a track that feels both heavy and hazy.

There are echoes of the 90s shoegaze and alternative rock sound, but Urban Rituals aren't simply looking backwards. The electronic elements and dense production give the track a more contemporary edge, while the dreamier textures stop it from becoming a straightforward heavy rocker.

Urban Rituals Are A Band To Watch

What makes After Burn particularly interesting is the way Urban Rituals balance contrasting elements.

The guitars are loud and abrasive, the rhythm section hits hard, yet there’s still a sense of space and atmosphere running through the track. It’s that combination of aggression and dreaminess that gives the band their appeal.

For a band formed only in 2025, Urban Rituals are already developing a sound that feels surprisingly assured. If Conniption introduced their atmospheric side, After Burn showcases the heavier direction they’re capable of taking things in.

Final Verdict

After Burn is a confident second statement from Urban Rituals. Heavy, hypnotic and packed with swirling guitar textures, it successfully blends 90s shoegaze influences with modern alternative rock and electronic production.

The Dublin band are clearly still developing their sound, but there’s already plenty here to suggest that Urban Rituals could become one of the more interesting names on Ireland’s alternative rock scene.

The single, After Burn, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Urban Rituals