Much to the delight of fans, the debut album from Cork five-piece alt-rock outfit Cardinals is here. Titled Masquerade, the album fittingly focuses on themes of human suffering and deception, over a backdrop of religious imagery (as suggested by the band’s name).
Opening with alt-rock inspired track ‘She Makes Me Real’, the band utilise guitars and yearning vocals to build up tension and emotional traction throughout. While the track is short, it certainly should not be overlooked, with gutwrenching lyrics and a unique folk twang to it as the drums and guitars steadily layer over one another to form a wall of sound near the end of the track. The increase in tempo certainly allows for this song to stand out, and is reflective of a rapid, anxious heartbeat- allowing the story of the song another level of emotional and narrative depth.
‘St. Agnes’ follows on from where ‘She Makes Me Real’ left off, offering a similar sound that is not dissimilar to earlier releases by The Murder Capital. Lively and gothic, the track explores themes of love and turmoil with a bittersweet attitude with hard-hitting lines sprinkled throughout (such as “She said I’m a bad person, I’ve known that for years”). Nostalgic and powerful in its storytelling, ‘St. Agnes’ is both nostalgic and catchy, with a guitar-driven chorus that sets the title track up to follow brilliantly.
The title track ‘Masquerade’ is significantly slower and far more stripped back. More atmospheric and vulnerable than the opening tracks, the song is driven by more indie-influenced songwriting, pushing the signature post-punk sound to serve a lesser role. The result of this is a track that is both deeply personal and different to the rest of the album, with a more sombre and personal set of lyrics that draw the listener straight into a world of unrelenting misery and despair.
‘I Like You’ continues on the indie rock note ‘Masquerade’ finished on. A romantic ballad, ‘I Like You’ tells a tale of devotion while casting a bittersweet tone onto the lyrics. Putting his heart on his sleeve, frontman Euan Manning howls into the microphone with raw intensity and confidence. Declaring his love with relentless honesty, Manning delivers an exceptional performance with heavy verses that grapple with the album’s driving themes of desire and self-worth. The track is undoubtedly a highlight, and fitting for the album’s release date (13 February, just in time for Valentine’s Day).
‘Over At Last’ is entirely different in sound, far more cathartic and overpowering in how it utilises guitars. With erratic drumming and scratchy strings, ‘Over At Last’ shakes the foundations of the album, channeling the album from a gothic, woozy A-side to an angry, rearing B-side. The use of traditional A and B sides is a feature that undoubtedly elevates this album and allows the band to take the listener through a full emotional Odyssey, highlighting the fragility of the human condition as each track offers a different perspective on love and loss. Closing with a wailing climax, Manning yells over crashing guitars and drums to proclaim how he will “always be around”, ending the track on a poignant note as the band dies down.
The second half of the record transitions after this point into one that is far more aggressive, with ‘Anhedonia’ (meaning a reduced ability to experience pleasure in activities that previously offered joy, a common symptom of depression) offering an alt-rock infused spin on a traditional jig. This track is yet another highlight of the album, allowing the drums to stand out as the backbone of the tune, and providing the listener with a sound that is reminiscent of The Smashing Pumpkins’ early work.
As Masquerade begins to come to a close, it is clear that the band wanted to end it with a bang, packing intense solos and choruses into tracks like ‘Barbed Wire’ and ‘Big Empty Heart’, the latter encapsulating a sound that is equivalent to a shoegaze-esque sea shanty.
‘The Burning of Cork’ is Masquerade’s penultimate track, providing one last push of that signature angry sound that dominates the rest of the album. Politically-charged and punchy, this track is arguably the standout track of the album, inspired by the real 1920 burning of Cork by occupying British forces during the Irish Civil War. Chaotic and urgent, the track is powerful despite being only two minutes in length, capturing the essence of the event as well as allowing the band to present their identity. The album closes with the slow, accordion-driven ballad ‘As I Breathe’, leaving the debut off on a melancholy note that leaves fans wanting more.
Powerful and anthemic, Masquerade is an undoubtedly special release that will certainly feature as one of the defining albums of the year. The band will be celebrating the record’s release on their Masquerade Tour, kicking off in Belfast on 5 March.
Words by George Connell
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