Cardinals drop debut album ‘Masquerade’

Cork’s very own Cardinals have officially unleashed their debut album, ‘Masquerade,’ via indie tastemakers So Young Records, and it’s already making waves. Available on all physical formats—including Rough Trade’s exclusive Galaxy vinyl, CD, cassette, and more—the album is a bold, emotionally charged statement from a band clearly ready to carve their own path.

Critics Are Already Buzzing

The press is loving it:

• “The next great Irish band is here.” – The Observer
• “Indie’s next great storytellers.” – NME
• “Both tenderness and tension… deeply intimate, like being let in on something private.” – Dork
• “One of the best rock debuts in years… brilliant.” – The Independent
• “A new take on Eighties alternative-rock: familiar yet fresh and exciting.” – The Times

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From CLASH calling it “breath-taking” to Rolling Stone UK praising its “moments of light and dark worthy of greatness,” it’s clear Cardinals are building something special here.

Behind ‘Masquerade’

Frontman Euan Manning reflects on the album’s journey:

“The first album is daunting, but I feel like you’re not going to look at anything the same afterwards, artistically… It’ll change whatever we decide to do next, musically or otherwise.”

The album itself is a rollercoaster of emotion. Tracks like Anhedonia, The Burning of Cork, and Barbed Wire simmer with tension and raw energy, while songs such as She Makes Me Real and St. Agnes shine with vulnerability and hope. Structured almost like a classic vinyl A-side/B-side, ‘Masquerade’ blends folk honesty, goth-rock theatrics, and moments of pure, unfiltered rock.

A Band Built on Family and Friendship

Formed by brothers Euan and Finn Manning, their cousin Darragh, and former schoolmates Oskar Gudinovic and Aaron Hurley, Cardinals are a tight-knit five-piece already making waves in the Irish indie scene. Their mix of emotional, wracked rock with accordion flourishes and bursts of distortion has critics predicting a serious cult following—and after ‘Masquerade,’ it’s easy to see why.

Listen & Catch Them Live

Cardinals’ music has already reached wider audiences, with tracks from their self-titled debut EP appearing in Netflix’s “House of Guinness” and EA Sports’ Skate series.

This week, the band hits the road for a series of in-store performances, before heading out on a full UK & Ireland headline tour in March. They’ll also make a stateside return in May for Salt Lake City’s Kilby Block Party.

Upcoming Live Dates

• 16th Feb – Leeds, Jumbo *
• 17th Feb – Nottingham, Rough Trade *
• 18th Feb – London, Rough Trade East *
• 19th Feb – Brighton, Resident *
• 5th Mar – Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
• 6th Mar – Cork, St Luke’s
• 7th Mar – Dublin, The Workman’s Club
• 10th Mar – Bristol, The Exchange
• 11th Mar – London, The Garage
• 13th Mar – Manchester, Yes (Pink Room)
• 14th Mar – Newcastle, The Grove
• 15th Mar – Glasgow, King Tut’s
• 15–17th May – Salt Lake City, Kilby Block Party, Utah

in-stores (marked *)

‘Masquerade’ track list

1. She Makes Me Real
2. St. Agnes
3. Masquerade
4. I Like You
5. Over At Last
6. Anhedonia
7. Barbed Wire
8. Big Empty Heart
9. The Burning of Cork
10. As I Breathe

BUY ‘MASQUERADE’ HERE

‘Masquerade’ is out now on So Young Records. Whether you’re into indie, alternative, or just crave music that hits deep, Cardinals are a band you’ll want to follow.