Review of the 2023 album Unreal Unearth
Irish singer-songwriter, Hozier, who infamously begged us to take him to church, invites us to journey through hell in his 2023 album, Unreal Unearth. Though Hozier is known for weaving religious and literary themes into his albums, Unreal Unearth takes this sentiment to a new level.
The album draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy and more specifically, Inferno. Just as Dante journeyed with Virgil, listeners are invited to journey with Hozier through the nine circles of hell.
The Inferno was unique since Dante the character was able to sympathize with the people he encountered in hell. Hozier follows in the footsteps of Dante and provides an emotional soundscape for various characters mentioned, or imagined, to be dwelling in various circles of hell.
“Francesca” is a perfect example. This song recounts the story of lovers condemned to the seventh circle of hell–where those who commit the ‘sin’ of lust are punished. It is a love song to Francesca, affirming that her lover would not change their story even if it meant eternal damnation. The lover sings “If someone asked me at the end/ I’ll tell them put me back in it/ Darling, I would do it again.”
Hozier uses the human appeal of the damned in “Unknown/Nth” as well. This song takes place in the ninth circle, where the traitors are kept.
Satan himself inhabits this circle. His punishment is gruesome–he is bound to chew eternally on the flesh of a different traitor in each of his three mouths. This is reflected in Hozier’s lyric, “You called me angel for the first time/ My heart leapt from me/ You smile now, I can see its pieces still stuck in your teeth.”
The most remarkable thing about this album is the continuous reference to the Inferno theme and the incorporation of various other literary elements.
If Hozier was a student in social sciences, he would be one who places an APA paraphrasing citation at the end of every second sentence in the essay. The songs “DeSelby Pt. 1” and “DeSelby Pt. 2” reference The Third Policeman and The Dorky Archive by Flann O’Brien. The song “Eat Your Young” references Dr. Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People.
The album presents a captivating and diverse musical journey that seamlessly blends various genres and showcases remarkable collaborations (notably “Damage Gets Done” with Brandi Carlile). Hozier skillfully captures the poignant reflections of our current social scene, offering tracks that invite you to dance while others tug at your heartstrings, making it a versatile and emotionally resonant listening experience.
