From a cramped rehearsal space on Cork’s northside, Cardinals have produced a debut that oscillates between tenderness and abrasion.
Masquerade is ambitious in scope. It often feels emotionally charged, but just as frequently there’s a sense of uneven execution. Still, there are clear hints of what this band might become once everything locks into place.
Opener ‘She Makes Me Real’ is serviceable, albeit without making much of a dent. Its religious imagery, “Bask in the relief at the throne of Jesus Christ,” gestures toward the Catholic symbolism that runs through the record, but musically it feels more like scene-setting than a true statement of intent.
‘St. Agnes’ is where the album properly arrives. The sharp, almost taunting refrain, “That’s the man she’s married to now”, gives the track bite, and the repetition of “Don’t the truth make it sad?” lands with a blunt force that suits the band’s mix of melodrama and grit.
The title track is one of the strongest early moments. The concertina adds a distinctly Celtic lilt, nodding toward Thin Lizzy and The Pogues without tipping into caricature. There’s a real swagger here that feels earned, a sense of national identity that doesn’t need to announce itself loudly.
‘I Like You’ drifts by pleasantly enough but lacks urgency, and ‘Anhedonia’, despite its violent imagery, never quite justifies its intensity. The same goes for ‘Barbed Wire’, which leans a little too heavily on atmosphere without sharpening its hook.
Things lift again with ‘Over At Last’. Lines like “You want it over now / Over at last” combine with recurring cross imagery to reinforce the album’s fixation on faith, or perhaps more accurately, doubt. ‘Big Empty Heart’ also benefits from dynamic shifts in tempo, giving the record a welcome jolt.
‘The Burning of Cork’ pushes into grander territory, edging toward Muse-style drama. The repeated “And it burns” risks tipping into excess, but its historical undertones give it added weight.
And then there’s closer ‘As I Breathe’, the clear standout. The percussion is restrained and tender, and lyrics like “Truth is hard to find” and “You can wear the chain / I’ll wear the collar of my clerical order” neatly round off the album’s preoccupation with belief and submission.
Masquerade proves Cardinals have vision and identity. They just need to find consistency.
