Cardinals release new track “Barbed Wire” – Listen

A promising new band on the music scene in 2025 is the young Irish indie rock group, Cardinals. Their highly anticipated full-length debut album, Masquerade, is scheduled for release early in 2026. Some of the tracks from this upcoming LP have already been previewed, including the title track, “Big Empty Heart,” and “The Burning Of Cork.” The latest addition to their roster of songs is the newly released track, “Barbed Wire.”

“Barbed Wire” showcases Cardinals’ distinctive use of the accordion, a unique element that helps set them apart from other bands. The song itself exudes a cool, old-school indie rock vibe with a touch of catchy spikiness reminiscent of the Pixies. Despite the slightly awkward use of the term “spikiness” to describe a song titled “Barbed Wire,” the inclusion of the accordion adds a drunken goth-folk essence to the overall sound. It’s possible that these musicians may single-handedly revive interest in the accordion, similar to the impact made by pop culture icons like Steve Urkel or the musical duo Madvillain.

Much like their previous work, “Barbed Wire” delves into the historical background of Cork, the hometown of Cardinals. Lead vocalist Euan Manning explains, “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.” These influences can be clearly seen in the Xander Lewis-directed music video for “Barbed Wire.”

Fans can look forward to the release of Masquerade on February 13th, courtesy of So Young Records. Keep an eye out for more exciting music from Cardinals as they continue to make their mark on the indie rock scene in the coming year.