Speaking to The Independent on the influences behind Unreal Unearth, Hozier shared that the pandemic lockdowns strongly influenced his creativity. He said, “It was funny, because in some ways I thought I’d spent enough time [on his favoured themes of life and mortality], and then we were thrown into these new conditions. So there was a lot of death hanging over me.”

Hozier continued, “I was confronted with things that were working in my life, and things that weren’t. Things were changing and shifting. People, careers, habits, places… relationships around me were breaking down and forming in new ways.”

During this time, Hozier found Dante’s Inferno to have a lasting impact on him, as well as the Greek idea of ‘katabasis,‘ meaning a journey to the underworld. Hozier told The Independent, “I think everyone goes through a version of that in their lives.” The album is structured around the nine circles of hell, featuring his signature blend of piano ballads and folk-pop tracks.

Hozier released his first single from Unreal Unearth, “Eat Your Young” back in April. This track is one of multiple on the album with a literary influence, drawing inspiration from Irish writer Jonathan Swift’s satirical 1729 essay, A Modest Proposal.

Hozier is no stranger to drawing upon literary and historical subjects to influence his writing, and Unreal Unearth proves to be no different. Across the album, Hozier references the Wexford Rebellion of 1729, Flann O’Brien’s 1967 philosophical text The Third Policeman and more, satisfying his fanbase who turn to him for his poetic and historically informed approach to lyrics.

Hozier worked with co-writers on this project, with this being a new and welcome change for him. He shared, “I’m somebody who is constantly trying to crawl away and be on my own, but to the point where I could end up losing my own mind. It was a drug, to come from such solitude and then be in a space with others, making all this fantastic noise.”

He took to Twitter to celebrate the album’s release, writing “The album represents a reflection on the journey through the last few years and all that was reckoned with in that time. I feel incredibly lucky for your support and can’t wait to see some of you at shows soon.“

#UnrealUnearth is out now

The album represents a reflection on the journey through the last few years and all that was reckoned with in that time. I feel incredibly lucky for your support and can’t wait to see some of you at shows soon.

https://t.co/seLzUUhvUi pic.twitter.com/HoPXmwjEsZ

— Hozier (@Hozier) August 18, 2023

Hozier has also announced a UK and Ireland tour to celebrate the album’s release. Read more here.

10/12/23 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool
11/12/23 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
13/12/23 – Resorts World Arena – Birmingham
15/12/23 – OVO Wembley Arena – London
17/12/23 – SSE Arena – Belfast

Unreal Unearth is available for purchase now. Stream the album below.