Following their standout performance opening for Fontaines D.C. at Finsbury Park this summer Cork’s finest Cardinals have announced details surrounding their debut album ‘Masquerade’ which is set to land on land February 13th via So Young Records.
The ten-track collection was recorded with producer Shrink at London’s legendary RAK Studios this summer. The quintet comprised of brothers Euan and Finn Manning, their cousin Darragh and schoolmates Oskar Gudinovic and Aaron Hurley have previewed the album with the album’s title track ‘Masquerade’.
“Something the record looks at is peeling back the ‘masquerade’ or the facade we all put up. The curtain is pulled and cynicism takes its place – it’s really easy to be cynical and far harder to be hopeful and genuine,” offers frontman Euan Manning of the new record and their new single.
“We’ve learnt this through playing and touring but you can’t be a total cynic if you’re making music or films or whatever it is, making art forces you to dig deeper than that protective layer. Stripping it back is painful, you can find things you’re really not proud of but it also lends itself to a sort of acceptance that can’t be attained if you don’t allow yourself that vulnerability. A lot of the themes and ideas in the album come from that place.”
“The song Masquerade is the broadest exploration of that. It’s definitely one of the more intimate moments on the album. The vulnerability it reveals is uncomfortable and that’s where we wanted to be when we were writing the songs on the record.”
Masquerade also features the previously released single ‘Big Empty Heart’ and is available to pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
She Makes Me Real
St. Agnes
Masquerade
I Like You
Over At Last
Anhedonia
Barbed Wire
Big Empty Heart
The Burning Of Cork
As I Breathe
‘Masquerade’ will be available on all physical formats including a Rough Trade exclusive Galaxy vinyl, Retail and Artist store variants as well as CD and cassette (exclusively via the band’s store). Those in Australia will also be able to order an exclusive edition via Impressed.
The band have also shared details of a headline tour across mainland Europe in late November to round off the year.
Cardinals live:
16th September – Zebulon, Los Angeles, CA
22nd September – Bristol, Strange Brew
23rd September 2025 – Southampton, Joiners
25th September 2025 – Norwich, Waterfront Studio
26th September 2025 – Leeds, Belgrave
27th September 2025- Manchester, Yes Pink Room
29th September 2025- Brighton, Patterns
30th September 2025 – London, Moth Club
24th November 2025 – Paris, Point Ephemere
26th November 2025 – Berlin, Kantine
27th November 2025 – Düsseldorf, Ratinger Hof
28th November 2025 – Gent, Trefpunt
29th November 2025 – Nijmegen, Doornroosje
30th November 2025 – Amsterdam, Tolhuistuin