Cardinals - Masquerade

There isn’t a shortage of post-punk-leaning indie bands coming out of Ireland - whether it’s Fontaines or The Murder Capital, or, more recently, Basht or Gurriers. Cork-based Cardinals are the latest to stake a claim in the scene. And while they certainly draw on the blunt bleakness of their predecessors, accordion flourishes add folky warmth to their otherwise sombre sound.

‘Masquerade’ unfolds in two halves. The first half features forlorn ballads: the propulsive melancholy of the title track, the swinging accordion of ‘I Like You’, and the baroque folk of ‘She Makes Me Real’. Each track holds its own but teeters on the edge of flight, as if waiting for a cue to take off.

However, the second ‘I Like You’ becomes ‘Over at Last’ (or, the midpoint that marks the switch from side A to B on vinyl), the simmering energy bursts, and pummelling guitar solos and delirious compositions lift Euan Manning’s keening croon above the fray. His voice never settles on a note; instead, it is constantly on the edge of a wail. On ‘Big Empty Heart’, this transforms the track into a crooked lullaby, while suffocating cries of “I can hardly breathe” on ‘Barbed Wire’ make for a fever-ridden moment of post-punk intensity. But when the steam runs out, the album falters: ‘The Burning of Cork’ and six-minute closer ‘As I Breathe’ shine in their lyrical depth, but their melodies never quite take off.

Although the execution of ‘Masquerade’ sometimes feels uneven, there is plenty to be excited about. Whether Cardinals become the next big band to come out of Ireland, only time will tell, but as of now, they’re certainly making a strong case for it.