It's hard to believe that a decade has passed since Hozier burst onto the scene with his haunting debut single "Take Me to Church." Back in 2013, Andrew Hozier-Byrne was just a college dropout recording in his parents' attic, never expecting that soulful track would become a global anthem. Fast forward ten years, and the Irish singer-songwriter has delivered what many consider his most ambitious and successful album yet: Unreal Unearth.
Released in 2023, this 16-track concept album is a far cry from the straightforward pop of his earlier work. It's a dense, literary journey inspired by one of the most famous epic poems ever written: Dante's Inferno. Hozier didn't just borrow a few themes—he structured the entire album around the nine circles of Hell, turning each song into a meditation on sin, suffering, and redemption.
Finding Inspiration in a Pandemic Read
Like many of us, Hozier spent the early days of the pandemic feeling lost and uncertain. But instead of writing directly about lockdown, he found a more creative way to process those emotions. "I didn't want to write songs that were about a lockdown," he explained. "But I did want to explore this feeling of going into something, these new circumstances, and coming out the other side."
His solution came from a book he picked up during quarantine: Dante's Inferno. The idea of a protagonist wandering through the underworld, meeting new souls in each circle who share their pain, resonated deeply with Hozier. He decided to let each song represent a different circle, from Limbo to Treachery. "That was something I allowed myself to play with a little bit," he said. "Each song starts with my voice, but it allows itself to grow to where it needs to be."
The Story Behind 'Francesca'
Some tracks take the concept more literally than others. The standout song "Francesca" is a direct retelling of the tragic story of Francesca da Rimini, a historical figure who appears in Dante's poem. Trapped in the circle of Lust after being murdered by her husband for falling in love with another man, Francesca's tale becomes one of Hozier's most moving moments. The lyric "Heaven is not fit to house a love like you and I" captures her defiant choice—she would rather spend eternity in Hell than give up her love.
A Surprise No. 1 Hit That Almost Didn't Make the Cut
Perhaps the most fascinating story from Unreal Unearth involves a song that didn't make the album. Hozier had written a disco-infused track called "Too Sweet" for the circle of Gluttony, but ultimately decided it didn't fit the album's tone. He left it off the final tracklist in favor of "Eat Your Young," a biting critique of corporate greed.
But fate had other plans. A snippet of "Too Sweet" accidentally leaked on a radio show and went viral. Fans went wild for the upbeat, self-destructive anthem, and Hozier relented, releasing it as a single. The song became his first No. 1 hit in the United States. "It's a song about somebody who wants to self-destruct and get trashed!" Hozier laughed. "I've written songs that deal with more complicated themes, but this one is fun and immediate. That's part of its appeal."
With Unreal Unearth, Hozier proved he's not just a one-hit wonder from a decade ago. He's an artist willing to take risks, draw from classic literature, and let his audience grow with him. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer drawn in by "Too Sweet," this album offers a rich, rewarding listen that gets better with each spin.
