Cardinals share new single “Barbed Wire”, announce 2026 UK & Irish tour

Following a near month on the road, Cork’s Cardinals return today with another highlight of their upcoming debut album, the swaggeringly melodic but darkly worded “Barbed Wire“. Watch the official music video below.

Frontman Euan Manning had to say the following about the latest single to land from their record: “It’s very much inspired by the history of our city and the Gaol house that stood on the south gate bridge many years ago, lyrically I had hoped to evoke images of silhouetted city walls and security fences. Sometimes aesthetics can carry a song from its inception to its completion. Kevin Barry’s novel ‘City of Bohane’ also served as inspiration for a gothic re-imagining of Cork.”

“Barbed Wire”, which lands alongside a black and white video by Xander Lewis, is the fourth song to be taken from their much-anticipated debut album “Masquerade”. Set to land February 13th on tastemaker label So Young Records, the ten-song collection was recorded with producer Shrink at RAK Studios, London, across the summer. It’s a record that is at once grand and intimate, awash with romance and flickers of holy imagery, and most of all, it’s an undeniable fulfilment of the innate promise the band have shown since their earliest beginnings.

These are emotionally expansive songs, some simmering with an undercurrent of violence, cynicism or fervent discontent (“Anhedonia“, “The Burning of Cork”, “Barbed Wire“) and others gleaming with a bright-eyed vulnerability. A vivid first half contrasts a darker second and crafts a record with a clear A-side and B-side. A nod to the band’s collective love of vinyl, that tonal shift takes its cue from a variety of expected and unexpected influences – from the brittle honesty of folk to the theatrical melodrama of goth-rock.

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A band forged through both family and friendship – brothers Euan and Finn Manning, their cousin Darragh and their former schoolmates Oskar Gudinovic and Aaron Hurley – the five-piece have already positioned themselves at the vanguard of the Irish independent rock scene. And with “Masquerade”, they have flung off any shackles to craft something entirely their own.

“Masquerade” will be released on all physical formats, including a Rough Trade exclusive Galaxy vinyl, Retail and Artist store variants as well as CD and cassette (exclusively via the band’s store). Those in Australia will also be able to order an exclusive edition via Impressed.

Pre-order the album here.

The band have also seen songs from their self-titled debut EP appear in Netflix’s new drama “House of Guinness” and in EA Sports’ popular “Skate” series.

After recent live performances including Fontaines D.C.’s massive Finsbury Park all-dayer, supporting Wunderhorse twice in Dublin and a support The Pogues in Boston, the band recently headlined the So Young tour with Mên An Tol and went on to support NewDad across the UK last month.

The group have a headline tour across mainland Europe in late November to round off the year and will not be slowing down in 2026, where they’ve announced a full set of UK & Irish headline dates in support of “Masquerade” for March.

The band will also return to the US in May to perform at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Block Party.

Cardinals live:

24th November 2025 – Paris, Point Ephemere
26th November 2025 – Berlin, Kantine
27th November 2025 – Düsseldorf, Ratinger Hof
28th November 2025 – Gent, Trefpunt
29th November 2025 – Nijmegen, Doornroosje
30th November 2025 – Amsterdam, Tolhuistuin
5th March 2026 – Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
6th March 2026 – Cork, St Luke’s
7th March 2026 – Dublin, The Workman’s Club
10th March 2026 – Bristol, The Exchange
11th March 2026 – London, The Garage
13th March 2026 – Manchester, Yes (Pink Room)
14th March 2026 – Newcastle, The Grove
15th March 2026 – Glasgow, King Tut’s
15th May – 17th May 2026 – Salt Lake City, Kilby Block Party, Utah

Cardinals
Masquerade
Out February 13th 2026
So Young Records

She Makes Me Real
St. Agnes
Masquerade
I Like You
Over At Last
Anhedonia
Barbed Wire
Big Empty Heart
The Burning of Cork
As I Breathe

Cardinals are:

Euan Manning – guitar and vocals
Oskar Gudinovic – guitar
Aaron Hurley – bass
Finn Manning – accordion
Darragh Manning – drums