A record that is at once grand and intimate, awash with romance and flickers of holy imagery, and most of all, it’s an undeniable fulfilment of the innate promise the band have shown since their earliest beginnings. These are emotionally expansive songs, some simmering with an undercurrent of violence, cynicism or fervent discontent (“Anhedonia”, “The Burning of Cork”, “Barbed Wire“) and others gleaming with a bright-eyed vulnerability.
A vivid first half contrasts a darker second and crafts a record with a clear A-side and B-side. A nod to the band’s collective love of vinyl, that tonal shift takes its cue from a variety of expected and unexpected influences – from the brittle honesty of folk to the theatrical melodrama of goth-rock.
“The Burning of Cork” The song takes its name from the act of terror inflicted upon Cork City by the British Army’s Black and Tan forces in December 1920,” says Cardinals’ Euan Manning of their new single. “It’s the record at its heaviest and most menacing.” We agree with his description. Cardinals’ debut album, The album “Masquerade”, is out February 13th via So Young.
Our debut album ‘Masquerade’ will be released on February 13th 2026.
The Fat Angel Sings 