It is no secret that Hozier’s 2023 album “Unreal Unearth” was a major success. Therefore, it is a welcomed surprise that he released “Unheard,” a collection of four songs that did not make the album. However, just because they did not make the album does not mean they are not fantastic in their own right.
“Unreal Unearth” was meant to serve as a modern interpretation of Dante’s Inferno, with each song representing a layer of hell.
“Too Sweet,” representing Gluttony, recently spent a few weeks trending on TikTok. It showcases a potential new songwriting direction for Hozier. While love is still the central theme, it looks at it from a different angle, with the narrator explaining how he and the song’s subject are not meant to be. The narrator is bitter, jaded and mature when it comes to navigating life and love. The other subject is sweet and less embittered from the world. It is a rejection song and is something new for the artist.
The track is also different instrumentally. It emphasizes the bassline and drums more than previous works, introducing a new sound. While the harmonies and soaring vocals typically seen in other works are still apparent, the different instrumental lends a new type of feeling to it.
The second track, “Wildflower and Barley,” represents limbo. It is another slightly different direction from Hozier’s typical sound. With acoustic guitar, keyboard and soft drums, the song has a 1970s-soft-rock vibe with a soul twist accompanied by the soft yet potent vocals of acclaimed singer-songwriter Allison Russell. The lyrics, however, are closer to his usual style and rich with imagery and prose.
“Empire Now” pulls a complete 180 from the previous tracks. It is meant to represent the circle of violence and is almost cinematic in nature. Sweeping guitars and violins combine with powerful, soaring vocals on the track to create an intricate and elaborate soundscape. Alongside this, the track tells an intriguing tale.
The lyrics reference Irish history heavily, with “one hundred years from the empire now” likely alluding to Ireland gaining independence from Britain in 1921. Other lyrics like “martyrs of our revolution” reference the execution of Irish Republican Brotherhood leaders, which helped spark the revolution against Britain. Finally, “Sun coming up on a dream come ‘round” and “Sun coming up on a world that’s easy now” act as a play on the phrase “empire on which the sun never sets.” Britain was often called this, as their empire was so extensive that it was always daytime in one of their territories. However, the sun was coming up on a new nation, Ireland. This is not the first time the Irish native has referenced the history of his country in his discography.
Finally, “Fare Well” feels the most familiar to longtime fans of Hozier. It is meant to symbolize the ascent out of hell, giving it a feeling of finality aided by the play on words in the title. However, that feeling is conveyed in a less grim way than one might expect from the end of an EP. The vibrantly upbeat acoustic guitar juxtaposed against morbid imagery is extremely on brand for the singer, as it is then delivered in a way that still leaves the listener somewhat hopeful.
While it may have started as a collection of unreleased songs, “Unheard” became something great, leaving listeners eager to hear more.
