On December 6th, 2024, alternative singer/songwriter Andrew Hozier Byrne, known by his stage name Hozier, released a studio album titled Unreal Unearth: Unending. This new release is his third studio album, and the sum of his Unreal Unearth project, which has been ongoing since 2019.
The third album combines all 16 tracks from the original EPs and the seven tracks released in Unreal Unearth Unaired, which came out two days before the first anniversary of the original album. It also includes the melodic ballads “Swan Upon Leda” and “Through me (The flood)” from the “Eat Your Young” single.
The Unreal Unearth project originally started during the COVID-19 pandemic; Hozier commented that it was “his way of making sense of the last two years.” He was inspired by The Divine Comedy, or Dante’s Inferno (which he had been reading at the time), and Dante’s journey through the nine rings of hell. The album is based on Dante’s journey through hell, each song signifying a different theme or feeling.
Many songs that did not make the cut for the first EP were featured later, typically on the anniversary of the original release. Unreal Unearth Unending is the last album to be released for the Unreal Unearth project and can be understood as the grand finale.
The Unending album version features one brand new song titled “Hymn to the Virgil,” named for the Roman poet who guided Dante through the depths of hell. “Hymn to the Virgil” is an electric and haunting song charged with powerful vocals. It speaks of love, loss, and the lengths someone would go to for love, as seen in the chorus and mainline “I would burn the world to bring some heat to you.” Listening to this song, I felt the urgency in Hozier’s voice, like he would sacrifice anything to make his love safe and comfortable. It reminded me of his earlier song, “Talk,” which was about Orpheus and Eurydice. In both songs, his understanding of love is often intertwined with self-sacrifice.
All physical versions of this album are sold out on the official site, having been ravaged by fans mere days after release. The physical copy is a collection of 26 different songs spread across three discs. It totals one hour and 39 minutes, making it Hozier’s longest single release yet.
Unreal Unearth Unending serves as a perfect conclusion for Hozier’s Unreal Unearth project. It combines all the steps of his artistic process in recreating his understanding of Dante’s journey through hell. I, for one, am amazed and astonished with the end product, truly Hozier’s vision has been masterfully fulfilled.