Cardinals announce debut album with new single ‘Masquerade’
Following a successful run of singles and EPs, Cardinals have announced their debut album along with the release of the titular track ‘Masquerade’.
Cardinals came together through a mixture of family and friends who all shared a love of similar-sounding music. Since they have formed, they have managed to create an eclectic mix of music that spans a range of emotions, feelings and themes. Their sound has fucking skyrocketed them to being one of the biggest and most reliable bands in the constantly thriving Irish rock scene.
Fans today rejoice at the news that the band will soon be releasing their debut album, Masquerade. The record is set for release on February 13th, 2026. It was recorded by the Irish rock group in RAK Studios, London, which seemed to be the perfect place for the band to capture both the goddamn grand and the delicate, intimate style of music that makes them so captivating.
To truly commemorate the announcement of their debut record, Cardinals have released a new single of the same name. ‘Masquerade’ is a simple song, one that puts you in a deepening pocket for about three minutes and makes you feel comfortable in there. While the track may be a relatively clean-cut offering, there is no escaping that it highlights the band’s ability to expand upon simple moments in music and create significant atmosphere and layering within those moments.
The track begins with a drawn-out drum beat, the kind that makes the next note of the track unpredictable. It would fit on a rock song, something more mellow, and even a heavier track. We are met with vocals before anything else, as the soft lyrical stylings of Euan Manning ride over those drums and help put us plainly in that pocket where we’ll make ourselves at home for the next few minutes.
The use of both clean and distorted guitars, as well as great solo work, ensures that while we may not deviate from the same chord or melodic structure, we are still taken on a journey throughout this song. ‘Masquerade’ really manages to set the tone for the rest of the album, and is a welcome way to introduce it.
The song itself is about the fake smiles and personas that people in the world often don in a bid to fit in or gain recognition. It also discusses the ease with which people in the modern age seem to feel when it comes to choosing to be cynical or hopeful. “It’s really easy to be cynical and far harder to be hopeful and genuine,” explained Manning. “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.”
Further discussing the track, Manning explained, “The song ‘Masquerade’ is the broadest exploration of that. It’s definitely one of the more intimate moments on the album. The vulnerability it reveals is uncomfortable, and that’s where we wanted to be when we were writing the songs on the record.”
Cardinals’ debut album, Masquerade, will be available on February 13th.
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