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Unreal Unearth is the third studio album by Irish musician Hozier, released on 18 August 2023. It contains the singles "Eat Your Young" and "Francesca", along with the song "All Things End". Hozier toured Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia, and New Zealand in support of the record from June 2023 to November 2024. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, and debuted at number one on the Irish and UK charts. Background Hozier wrote the album during the COVID-19 pandemic and stated it was his way of "mak[ing] sense of the experience of the last two years". It was inspired by Dante's Inferno, which he began reading at the time; he framed the album around Dante's concept of the nine circles of Hell. He called the album "quite eclectic" and stated that there is "something of a retrospective in what the sounds lean into". He also said that the three tracks on the preceding Eat Your Young EP were "not representative of the entire album". The album features Hozier writing and singing lyrics in the Irish language for the first time. In an interview with The Irish Times, he said "there's so much that cannot be expressed outside of that language, that language can express that we're unaware of". The track "Butchered Tongue" refers to attempts by the British administration to destroy the Irish language through colonialism. On 14 March 2024, Hozier announced the Unheard EP which includes four songs originally recorded for Unreal Unearth: "Too Sweet", "Empire Now", "Fare Well" and "Wildflower and Barley". The tracks represent Dante's circles of limbo, gluttony, and violence, but did not make the final cut for the album. Behind the album Unreal Unearth is inspired by Dante's Inferno and the concept of the nine circles of Hell alongside many mythological and biblical references. Hozier also draws from characters and logic seen in Flann O'Brien's novel The Third Policeman. Unreal Unearth as a whole signifies a journey through Dante's nine circles of Hell and coming out at the other side, with each song(s) referring to a specific “universal theme” or feeling. Hozier reveals the meaning and inspiration behind the lyrics in a Behind the Song series on his YouTube Channel. Song meanings "De Selby (Part 1)"/"De Selby (Part 2)": The first song on the album represents Dante's descent into Hell as he enters the first circle of Hell: Limbo. Hozier draws inspiration from the character De Selby from Flann O’Brien's novel The Third Policeman. De Selby's “dreamlike logic” in the novel inspired Hozier to explore the idea of darkness as vessel of freedom and clarity. The song also nods to the biblical story of creation in a lyric referring to God's creation of light: “The likes of a darkness so deep, that God at the start couldn't bear.” Hozier ends the song in Gaelic, referring to the recurring themes of love and darkness. "De Selby (Part 2)" expands on the themes introduced in "De Selby (Part 1)", specifically how love functions in the state of darkness. "First Time": "First Time" continues in the first circle and represents changes within a relationship and the cycles of ending relationships and starting new ones. Hozier references trying to forget a first kiss by "drinking dry The River Lethe", a river found in the Underworld of Greek mythology. "Francesca": Based on story Francesca da Rimini and Paolo, Hozier's "Francesca" represents the second circle of Hell: Lust. The song follows a couple who Hozier states is, “punished in Hell for falling in love.” The love described within this song is so powerful that the characters are willing to face the punishment of Hell if it means they can continue to love together. Through this Hozier challenges the idea of lust as punishable with lyrics that reflect couple's willingness to suffer repeatedly: “If someone asked me at the end, I'd tell ‘em put me back in it.’” "I, Carrion (Icarian)": Hozier draws from the mythic story of Icarus to portray the second circle of Hell. In the myth of Icarus, Icarus dies as a result of his wings burning after flying too close to the sun; in the song, the subject burns and falls due to the intense feeling of love. Hozier once again challenges the idea of lust as punishable by ignoring the danger of falling because of love: "And though I burn, how could I fall, When I am lifted by every word you say to me?" "Eat Your Young": "Eat Your Young" reflects the fourth circle of Hell, greed, through the lens of global destruction. Hozier refers to the greed of older generations at the expense of younger generations and children, highlighting the debates of American gun control and corporate greed.The lyric "seven new ways that you can eat your young" is a nod to Buzzfeed articles which present a variety of different hints or solutions to problems. This line also relates to A Modest Proposal, an Irish satirical essay that suggests those in poverty should eat their children and presents six ways to do so. "Damage Gets Done (feat. Brandi Carlile)": Hozier refers to the circle of greed in "Damage Gets Done (feat. Brandi Carlile)" by addressing how irresponsible actions can have negative effects on both the environment and society as a whole. The song also elaborates on the idea of generational divides; older generations fear the ideas of younger generations and believe that younger generations will ruin traditional social structures. "Who We Are": Hozier returns to the idea of darkness and the journey back to the light in "Who We Are". Lyrics in this song refer to being born in the darkness of night and having to navigate this darkness.The darkness represents fear of the unknown and how this darkness works with light to represent both the good and bad of life. "Son of Nyx": "Son of Nyx" is a completely instrumental track that represents the albums turn towards the light in reference to Dante's journey. The song title refers to Nyx, the Greek goddess of night, which once again elaborates on the idea of darkness. The son of Nyx, Charon brings deceased souls across the River Styx, symbolizing the connection between the world and Hell seen throughout the album."Son of Nyx" also functions as a tribute to co-writer Alex Ryan, whose father's name was Nick. "All Things End": This song elaborates on the sixth circle of Hell, heresy, in terms of a relationship ending. Hozier highlights how the loss of faith after the end of a relationship goes against everything an individual believed to be true. He also proposes the idea of commitment and permanence in relationships being a dogma he cannot believe in: "When people say something is forever, either way it ends". "To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe)": Uiscefhuaraithe is a Gaelic word describing something that has been made cold by water. Hozier wrote the song for a lover who is from a warmer climate. "To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe)" expresses how thankful he is to have someone to share a warm bed with his lover in a cold climate like .... Discover the Elizabeth Flann popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Elizabeth Flann books.