Cardinals unveil details of debut album ‘Masquerade’

Following the release of last year’s self-titled EP, Cork five-piece Cardinals have now confirmed that their debut album, ‘Masquerade’, will arrive on 13th February via So Young. 

Recorded with Shrink at London’s RAK Studios, the ten track project promises to dig beneath the veneer of modern society to explore a darker underbelly of discord and vulnerability via a separation into two distinct halves. Explaining more about the LP’s central themes, frontman Euan Manning has said: “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. 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.” 

Continuing, he reflects: “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.” 

Listen to the album’s just-released title track and check out its full tracklist below.