Listen to Cardinals’ menacing new single ‘The Burning Of Cork’

Cardinals have shared the second single from their upcoming debut album ‘Masquerade’.

• READ MORE: Cardinals: the Cork indie band set on writing future classics

‘The Burning Of Cork’ follows the title track that was shared last month, from the Cork five-piece’s first LP – set to arrive on February 13 on So Young Records. You can pre-order the album here.

“The song takes its name from the act of terror inflicted upon Cork City by the British Army’s Black and Tan forces in December 1920. It’s the record at its heaviest and most menacing,” said frontman Euan Manning of the gritty track. You can listen to it below.

It follows a series of songs released from their self-titled debut EP, including ‘Big Empty Heart’, which will also appear on the record.

Speaking previously about their debut album, Manning described it as shifting from “the brittle honesty of folk to the theatrical melodrama of goth-rock” throughout.

“Something the record looks at is peeling back the ‘masquerade’ or the facade we all put up,” he added. “The curtain is pulled and cynicism takes its place – it’s really easy to be cynical and far harder to be hopeful and genuine.”

‘Masquerade’ will be released on all physical formats, as well as a Rough Trade exclusive Galaxy vinyl. Cassettes will be available exclusively via the band’s store.

The band are also due to support NewDad on their UK tour later this month before heading out on their own European tour. You can view the dates here and purchase tickets here.

NME named Cardinals in the NME 100 list of essential emerging artists for 2025, writing: “Take The Strokes’ knack for a laissez-faire indie hook, a little bit of honey-drizzled shoegaze, some new wave grace, a whole lot of Irish spirit and chuck in an accordion for good measure and you’ve got the punky sun-kissed romance of this Cork five-piece: the Class Of 2025’s ‘most likely to do a Fontaines and get massive.’”

Last year, Manning told NME that he wanted the band to make a “classic Cork album”. He added: “I think you want to be out of your comfort zone as much as you can. I’d hate to think that we’ve become lax and settled into something. It’s good to have a sound, obviously, but we want to keep pushing forward. There’s a whole spectrum of feeling – and I want to capture that.”

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