Cardinal Black unveils “Take Me to the Water”
Welsh rock trio Cardinal Black have released their new single, “Take Me to the Water,” from their upcoming third studio album, Second Sign of Life, due January 29, 2027, via Thirty Tigers. The band has also released an accompanying performance video.
Following the riff-driven “Saving Grace,” the new single takes a darker, more contemplative direction. Featuring Chris Buck’s expressive guitar work, Adam Roberts’ restrained drumming, and Tom Hollister’s soulful vocals, the song explores themes of disillusionment, isolation, and vulnerability.
Hollister wrote “Take Me to the Water” from the perspective of a man struggling to find his place in the world who becomes increasingly drawn toward the false promises of belonging offered by the online manosphere. The song examines how isolation and frustration can leave individuals susceptible to dangerous ideologies.
Musically, the track incorporates elements of soul and roots music, moving away from the band’s more traditional blues rock sound. Its spacious arrangement reflects Cardinal Black’s willingness to explore new musical directions on their upcoming album.
Second Sign of Life follows the band’s 2025 release, Midnight at the Valencia. While its predecessor featured expansive production and additional instrumentation, Cardinal Black took a more stripped-down approach for the new record, focusing on capturing the chemistry of their live performances.
“From writing and arrangements, to recording and production, we endeavoured to use as little as possible to make the biggest impact,” the band explains. “Gone were the synths, bagpipes and Moog bass and in came the vintage mics, grand pianos and loud (very loud…) guitar amps.”
The album was recorded over nine days in June 2026 at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg, Germany, while Cardinal Black were touring Europe with Alter Bridge. The sessions featured the band’s expanded five-piece touring lineup, allowing them to build on the chemistry developed through their live performances.
“We arrived at Clouds Hill already match-fit from playing to a few thousand people every night, with the songs, sounds and chemistry of the band very much at the forefront of our minds,” the band recalls. “A return to first principles, if you will – a cohesive, road-ready band, playing live, in a great-sounding room with the tape rolling.”
For the first time, Cardinal Black handled production and engineering duties themselves, with assistance from touring bassist and recording engineer Sam Andrews. The band emphasized live instrumentation and minimal overdubs, using additional percussion, backing vocals, and other elements sparingly.
The resulting ten-track album explores themes of love, loss, vulnerability, aging, and the isolation of life on the road.
Cardinal Black will support Second Sign of Life with a UK, Ireland, and European tour beginning March 30, 2027, in Wolverhampton, England. The 24-date run concludes May 13 in Oslo, Norway.
TOUR DATES
March 30 – Wolverhampton, UK – KK’s Steel Mill
April 1 – Dublin, Ireland – Button Factory
April 2 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Limelight
April 3 – Glasgow, UK – The Garage
April 5 – Newcastle, UK – Boiler Shop
April 6 – Leeds, UK – Stylus
April 9 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
April 10 – Southampton, UK – EngineRooms
April 11 – Exeter, UK – Phoenix
April 13 – Bristol, UK – Electric
April 15 – Cambridge, UK – Junction
April 16 – London, UK – KOKO
April 17 – Cardiff, UK – Great Hall
April 30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
May 1 – Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine
May 2 – Frankfurt, Germany – Das Bett
May 4 – Stuttgart, Germany – Im Wizemann
May 5 – Munich, Germany – Muffatwerk
May 6 – Vienna, Austria – Flex
May 8 – Berlin, Germany – Franzz Club
May 10 – Hamburg, Germany – Knust
May 11 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Rust (SOLD OUT)
May 12 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Musikens Hall
May 13 – Oslo, Norway – John Dee
