Cork’s Cardinals have proudly released their critically acclaimed debut album, “Masquerade“, via indie tastemakers So Young Records.
Frontman Euan Manning had to say the following about the album as a whole:
“The first album is daunting, but I feel like you’re not going to look at anything the same afterwards, artistically. The work that goes into it is an awful lot, and you’re putting a lot on the line in terms of vulnerability and opening ourselves up, emotionally. It’ll change whatever we decide to do next, musically or otherwise. I think it’ll have that effect on all of us.”
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.
“Masquerade” is 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).
BUY/STREAM ‘MASQUERADE’ HERE
After 2025 live performances, including Fontaines D.C.’s massive Finsbury Park all-dayer, supporting Wunderhorse twice in Dublin, and supporting The Pogues in Boston, the band co-headlined the So Young tour with Mên An Tol, supported NewDad on their UK dates and finished the year with a further headline tour of their own.
Catch Cardinals live on the below dates:
12th February 2026 – Cork, Musiczone *
13th February 2026 – Dublin, Spindizzy *
14th February 2026 – Belfast, HMV *
15th February 2026 – Liverpool, Rough Trade *
16th February 2026 – Leeds, Jumbo *
17th February 2026 – Nottingham, Rough Trade *
18th February 2026 – London, Rough Trade East *
19th February 2026 – Brighton, Resident *
5th March 2026 – Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
6th March 2026 – Cork, St Luke’s
7th March 2026 – Dublin, The Workman’s Club
10th March 2026 – Bristol, The Exchange
11th March 2026 – London, The Garage
13th March 2026 – Manchester, Yes (Pink Room)
14th March 2026 – Newcastle, The Grove
15th March 2026 – Glasgow, King Tut’s
