Artist: Dan Byrne
Album: This Is Where The Show Begins
Genre: Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Alternative Rock
Release: 2026
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 5/5 Guitars
Some debut albums introduce an artist. Others make a statement. This Is Where The Show Begins does both with confidence, swagger and a whole lot of heart.
Having burst onto the scene in 2023 with the Beginnings EP, Dan Byrne has wasted no time proving he’s one of Britain’s most exciting new rock voices. After relentless touring, festival appearances and strong support from Planet Rock, his long-awaited debut album arrives carrying plenty of expectation—and it absolutely delivers.
Blending the grit of classic hard rock with modern production and deeply personal songwriting, Byrne has created a record that’s every bit as emotional as it is powerful. Massive riffs, soaring choruses and soulful vocals sit comfortably alongside moments of vulnerability, proving that rock music doesn’t need to sacrifice heart to hit hard.
This is an album that feels equally at home blasting across a festival field or through your headphones on a late-night drive.
Track Listing
- Saviour
- She’s The Devil
- Praise Hell
- Sober
- Cherry & Leather
- Death Of Me
- Temple
- Pulling Me Under
- Hate Me
- Home
Track-by-Track Review
1. Saviour
An explosive opening that immediately grabs your attention. Huge riffs, infectious energy and a massive chorus make this the perfect introduction to the album.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
2. She’s The Devil
Swaggering hard rock at its finest. Byrne delivers a colossal vocal performance while the guitars tear through the speakers with real attitude.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
3. Praise Hell
A blues-soaked rocker with gospel influences and enough groove to get heads nodding from the very first riff. One of the album’s standout moments.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
4. Sober
One of the album’s emotional high points. Honest, vulnerable and beautifully delivered, it showcases Byrne’s ability to tell compelling stories through song.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
5. Cherry & Leather
Packed with swagger and attitude, this is a straight-up rock anthem filled with memorable hooks and driving guitars.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸
6. Death Of Me
A darker, heavier track that balances melodic vocals with crunching guitar riffs. Powerful and emotionally charged.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
7. Temple
A wonderfully dynamic song that shifts effortlessly between quieter verses and huge arena-ready choruses.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
8. Pulling Me Under
One of the album’s catchiest tracks, packed with soaring melodies and a chorus that sticks in your head long after the music stops.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
9. Hate Me
Emotionally raw and musically powerful, Byrne pours everything into this performance. Another standout moment on an already impressive record.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
10. Home
A stunning closing track that hints at Byrne’s willingness to push beyond traditional hard rock. Expansive, emotional and beautifully arranged, it leaves a lasting impression and suggests exciting possibilities for the future.
Rating: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Performance Review
🎤
Vocals – 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Dan Byrne possesses one of the finest voices currently emerging from the UK rock scene. Powerful, soulful and packed with emotion, he effortlessly moves between full-throttle rock aggression and quieter, heartfelt moments.
🎸
Guitars – 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Big riffs, bluesy flourishes and tasteful solos dominate the album without ever overshadowing the songs themselves.
🥁
Rhythm Section – 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Driving, energetic and incredibly tight throughout, providing the perfect backbone for Byrne’s songwriting.
🎧
Production – 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Modern, warm and beautifully balanced. Every instrument has room to shine while maintaining the raw energy of a live rock band.
✍️
Songwriting – 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
This is where the album truly excels. Byrne combines memorable hooks with honest storytelling, delivering songs that are instantly accessible while rewarding repeat listens.
Standout Tracks
🔥
- 🎵 Saviour
- 🎵 She’s The Devil
- 🎵 Praise Hell
- 🎵 Sober
- 🎵 Home
The Riff Report Verdict
🤘
Dan Byrne has delivered one of the strongest British rock debuts in recent memory. This Is Where The Show Begins captures everything that makes modern rock exciting while paying respectful tribute to the classic influences that helped shape it.
Having seen Byrne perform live at Steelhouse Festival, there’s an undeniable authenticity running through these songs. The passion, charisma and connection he brings to the stage translate effortlessly onto the record, making it feel less like a polished studio exercise and more like an invitation to join him on the journey.
Whether he’s unleashing huge choruses, stripping everything back to expose raw emotion or exploring new sonic territory on Home, Byrne never loses sight of what matters most: writing great songs.
If this album is only the beginning, British rock has a very bright future ahead.
Final Rating
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 5/5 Guitars
An exceptional debut packed with soaring vocals, huge riffs and heartfelt songwriting. Dan Byrne doesn’t just announce his arrival—he kicks the door off its hinges. One of the standout rock albums of the year. Proper job, butt! 🤘🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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