Ireland has enjoyed a swathe of impressive new rock outfits in the last few years. Cardinals has been at the core of that. It would be wrong to forget their strong work with Roseland, one of the best tracks of 2023 and absent from their debut album, Masquerade. Enough time has passed for the group, their meteoric rise showing no signs of stopping as they pick up some well-earned plaudits. Most important of all is the approval of Grian Chatten, a musician whose work with Fontaines D.C. has overshadowed his softer touch for solo material. Cardinals bring about an atmospheric thrill with Masquerade, a worthy debut which charts a course through the competitive rock and roll scene of the modern day. They’ll have no problem surviving because of how fast they manage to stand out here. Fall for the familiarity, stay for the fantastic innovations Cardinals are keen to make on Masquerade. There’s a lot to love about the band, from their punchy rock sound to the nuance found in the vocal work from Euan Manning.
All of those rock and roll fundamentals are overhauled exceptionally by Cardinals. They rid themselves of expectations by overwhelming their songs with a tone or feeling that would, for other artists, be a mere footnote. Opener She Makes Me Real is far more than a love song, it’s a track which relies completely on an infatuation and obsession which makes life feel real. Catchy, foot-tapping stuff with the strong wordplay necessary for carrying such a song to completion. What’s lost, or what is said to be lost among listeners today, is the chance to sit and experience a fully fleshed out album. They’re not listening closely enough when making such comments, but for those who still need convincing with an album where every song tells a story, where it all ties together through sharp instrumental ability and a tone which will no doubt be a core element of the future of the broader rock genre, Masquerade is it.
Just take a listen to the title track. Pair it with I Like You. What Cardinals does brilliantly across this debut album is pair the simplicity with the sincerity necessary to make it a message worth remembering. Gut punch after gut punch, but not done with the carelessness of a group trying to yank your heartstrings so hard you’re too teary-eyed to notice the shortcomings. There’s very little in the way of poor form from Cardinals. They have a sound which sounds proud of its roots, prouder still of having survived the experiences which form their best songs. I Like You and six-minute powerhouse, As I Breathe (a bold album closer) are phenomenal moments from the band. Subtly meets violence on Anhedonia, a song which sees the extremes of seeking pleasure charted well. Cardinals has a sharp, smart sense to their lyrical context and it’s backed by an instrumental which never fails to bring about the right atmosphere.
Cardinals are pulling from the contemporary scene and their influences in equal measure, leaving enough space for that accordion. It’s not what sets them apart, but it’s a huge part of their sound on songs like The Burning of Cork. What a thrill you can have with Cardinals’ first album. Masquerade is, for lack of a better term, a statement of intent. A confident showcase of what the band can do, and how they may better themselves in the onslaught of live performances, accolades, and bigger projects to follow. It’s easy to get lost in that momentum but Cardinals has been plugging away long enough to know they need to enjoy this moment. Masquerade is a chance for the band to try their hand at those inevitable arena fillers and the softer flourishes necessary for those swaying, slowed encore moments. They’ve got a nice range of all those parts here, and it feels so genuine. That’s half the battle; the next step comes on the stage with these quality songs.
