Unreal Unearth Album Review

In August 2023, Andrew Hozier-Byrne released his third studio album, “Unreal Unearth.” The album was written during the COVID-19 pandemic and was written as a concept album. Anyone that knows me can confirm this, but I am an absolute sucker for concept albums. This particular album was based upon Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” and each song from the album is based around each circle of hell. 

The first half covers the descent into hell and its first five circles. The songs are written beautifully. The highlights of this half are: “Eat Your Young,” which relates to gluttony, the third circle, “Francesca,” lust, the second circle and “Who We Are,” representing wrath, the fifth circle. This album is about Hozier’s descent through each circle of hell, and no song is like another.

“Eat Your Young” is about how society is consuming its youth with violence and war, while also reflecting on the consequences of greed and excess. “Francesca” is a rock song based on the story of Francesca and Paolo mentioned by Dante. It is from Paolo’s perspective, expressing his love for Francesca despite their eternal punishment. “Who We Are” is about being angry at life, and how individuals spend their entire lives reaching for glory knowing they will hold themselves back and end up living uneventful and jealous lives. 

The next half of this album covers the last four circles and the ascent and change that the speaker goes through. The highlights of this half are “All Things End,” representing heresy, the sixth level. “To Someone From A Warm Climate,” the seventh level, violence. “Abstract (Psychopomp),” fraud, the eighth level. “Unknown/Nth,” treachery, the ninth level, and “First Light,” based upon ascent. 

This is the better half, as it has the most impactful songs on it. “All Things End” is about the belief in reincarnation and that no one should live their life absorbed in religion. “To Someone From A Warm Climate” is about suicide and how negative thoughts lead to the “awful things we do to make the head go quiet.” “Abstract (Psychopomp)” expresses the fraud of hypocrisy, as it is about a spirit guide who comforts a mortally wounded animal. “Unknown/Nth” is about the speaker being betrayed by someone they loved, which is the direct definition of treachery. 

“First Light” is about how the speaker has changed after their experience in the underworld, and how nobody should settle down until they have witnessed all of life’s beauty. 

If I had to rank this album out of ten, it would be a ten. I believe this album is an absolute masterpiece. Hozier is one of the best songwriters of our generation and this album expresses that beautifully. Dante’s Inferno is such an interesting topic to write an album around. I recommend that anyone who enjoys pop/folk/rock music listen to this album.