Urban Rituals Turn Up The Fuzz On New Single Triggers
Formed in 2025, Urban Rituals have quickly built a reputation for their mix of shoegaze, electronic sounds and heavy guitar riffs. Drawing inspiration from the 90s while adding their own modern twist, the band have been making plenty of noise around Dublin's independent music scene.
They've put in the groundwork too, playing grassroots gigs at venues including The Racket Space, Fibber Magees, The Bernard Shaw and The Annesley House. Along the way, they've shared stages with the likes of Sun Mahshene and Collosus, steadily building a following and getting their name out there.
But Urban Rituals clearly have their sights set beyond the Dublin circuit. They kicked off 2026 with their debut single Conniption
, quickly followed by After Burn
. Now, with their third release of the year, Triggers
, they're showing no signs of slowing down.
Triggers
- A Wall Of Guitars And Hypnotic Beats
Triggers
doesn't exactly ease you in. Instead, Urban Rituals hit you with a wall of distorted guitars that swirl and build throughout a lengthy opening. It's almost a full minute before the snarling vocals finally arrive, but by then the track has already pulled you into its hazy, fuzz-filled world.
There's a definite 90s indie rock feel running through the song, with layers of distortion, swirling shoegaze effects and a psychedelic edge. The guitars are loud and fuzzy, but there's something strangely dreamy about the whole thing, giving the track a hypnotic quality that's hard to shake.
Underneath all that guitar noise, tight, driving drum beats keep everything moving along. There's a touch of Moby and Massive Attack in the rhythm, bringing an electronic influence to the band's guitar-heavy sound. It's an interesting combination, and one that gives Triggers
a feel of its own.
What really works here is how the different elements come together. The washed-out guitars, gritty vocals and relentless beat create a sound that feels both heavy and dreamy at the same time. It's the kind of track you can easily get lost in, particularly when those swirling guitars take over.
Final Verdict
Three singles into 2026, and Urban Rituals are clearly on a creative roll. Triggers
takes their love of 90s shoegaze and indie rock, throws in some electronic influences and turns the distortion right up. It's loud, hypnotic and packed with attitude.
With each release, the Dublin band are making a stronger case for themselves as one of the most exciting new names on the Irish music scene. If 'Triggers' is anything to go by, Urban Rituals are only getting started, and they're definitely a band worth keeping an eye on.
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