By Annika Young, Editor-in-Chief

     Hozier’s 2024 album, “Unreal Unearth,” incorporates mythology and history with modern societal problems, wrapped up in touching lyrics and haunting melodies. His album takes the listener through Dante’s Inferno, uncovering the nine circles of hell in his lyricism.

     Hozier’s music has often had many of the same ideals, focusing on conflict, war, and human greed. ‘Unreal Unearth’ begins with ‘De Selby’ Parts 1 and 2 starting the descent into hell. The songs are based on the novel “The Third Policeman,” by Flann O’Brien. In the novel, De Selby is an Irish philosopher and scientist studying the paradoxical mind. 

     The themes of the novel are reflected in the song, as his lyrics in Part 1 explore identity and reality. While Part 2 Hozier continues to use the motif of darkness, only following the romantic lyrics at the end of Part 1.

     Entering the first circle of hell, “Limbo,” is the song First Time. Limbo is the circle for those who, although never lived in sin, were never baptized. Those stuck in Limbo are cursed with perpetual sadness and a longing for God’s presence in their lives. At first listen, the song is a love song, but the song transforms in the middle where he begins recalling a moment where he was struggling but his mother left flowers on his counter. The song then takes on a new meaning–the circle of both life and death and how interconnected they are.

     “Francesca” is the next song on the album and is also the first song in the second circle, Lust. The circle of lust punishes lovers who have given in to the desires. The song is based on the two lovers, Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta, from Dante’s Inferno. Both fell in love with each other although Francesca was tricked into marrying his brother. They had an affair, were murdered and were sent to hell for their “uncontrollable lust.” Every lyric Hozier writes relates perfectly to this story and captures the love they had that was torn away from them due to the marriage.

     Continuing the journey in the circle of Lust is the song “I, Carrion (Icarian).” The title of the song is interpreted as Carrion meaning rotting flesh and Icarian meaning Icarus, a figure from Greek mythology. The woman in this story is keeping the world together for him. He even describes it as very heavy, but his love is surface-level. He does not care how hard it is. He asks her to float away with him, even though it is the irresponsible and unrealistic thing to do, and he knows the consequences risking both of their lives. 

     Entering the third circle of gluttony is the song, “Eat Your Young.” The theme of gluttony is immediately apparent in the first three lines, although the song is not discussing gluttony in a typical sense. 

     “Damage Gets Done” is in the fourth circle, Greed. The song is a journey of two lovers who used to feel that they had the whole world just by having each other. Their mindsets changed, and their desire to feel fulfilled resulted in the destruction of their relationship.

     The fifth circle, Wrath, is portrayed by the eighth song of the album, “Who We Are.” Wrath is repressed anger and the song describes the loss of someone who used to be important. The narrator explains how he didn’t see it coming and the relationship burning out by trying to become something it wasn’t. 

     The song “Son of Nyx” is the next song on the album but does not contain any lyrics. This song is listed as a part of the sixth circle, Heresy. The circle of Hersey is for those who have rejected the Christian doctrine. The eerie murmurs are soothing but growing instrumentals mirror those who are imprisoned in this circle in fiery, open tombs.

     “All Things End” is the second song in the sixth circle. This song, as represented by the title, discusses how it is normal for everything to end, and in this case it is referring to a relationship. The idea that a relationship and the promised eternal devotion to another person will end up being broken in some way, which can be seen as the narrator rejecting God or religion because God is seen as “eternally loving.” 

     “To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe),” is in the seventh circle, Violence. This song is immensely complicated, with layers of meaningful lyricism, and it is also sonically beautiful. There are string instruments mixed in with a soft melody. The narrator through the lyrics is comparing their knowledge to how easy it was for them to love each other. The last lyric is the betrayal of his lover cheating on him. The violence in this song is the amount of love he felt for this person and the heartbreak that came from loving someone that much. 

     “Butchered Tongue,” stays in the Violence circle. This song references the loss of a language, in Hozier’s case, Gaelic. The forced and voluntary emigration out of Ireland as well as political efforts to get rid of the language have lessened the use of Gaelic and have led to loss of history and the feeling of having roots in Ireland. 

     “Anything But,” starts the eight circle of Fraud. The verses seem as though they are describing thoughtful things to do for somebody. Although it sounds like a love song, it is actually about rejecting someone, which is why it fits into the circle of Fraud.

     “Abstract” is the next song in the circle of Fraud. This song is about how as a kid Hozier watched someone hit an animal with a car and get out of the car to comfort the animal as it died. His lyrics explain how the person had no intention to hit the animal with the car, it just happened, just like how he didn’t try to fall in love but he simply had no choice but to not. 

     The ninth circle is Treachery and is represented by the song, “Unknown / nth.” The narrator falls in love, and he explains all of the things he would do to reach her. He calls her an angel and she reciprocates, calling him an angel as well; however, the lover has trapped the narrator and won his heart.

     The final song on the album’s initial release is “First Light.” “First Light” symbolizes the ascent, a turning point at the end of the Inferno that leads to the Purgatorio. This begins Dante’s difficult journey upwards. 

     Overall, Hozier’s album “Unreal Unearth” portrays societal issues through intense symbolism, allegories and a comparison to both history and Greek mythology.