In the early hours of 17th March, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier released his latest EP ÔÇÿAll Things EndÔÇÖ. The release day for this EP is very on-brand for Hozier, being both his birthday and St. PatrickÔÇÖs Day. Well-known for his soulful and reflective musical style, Hozier delivers a cluster of three tracks on this EP highlighting his distinct blend of evocative melodies, lyrical depth, and impressive vocal range. Hozier has been captivating audiences since his first famed track ÔÇÿTake Me To ChurchÔÇÖ in 2013, HozierÔÇÖs long-awaited album ÔÇÿUnreal UnearthÔÇÖ is set to be released later this year.┬á

There is a lot of anticipation surrounding this release, with HozierÔÇÖs last album being his ÔÇÿWasteland, BabyÔÇÖ in 2019. Hozier collaborated with Meduza, an electronic music group, back in 2022 with the song ÔÇÿTell it to my HeartÔÇÖ, but fans have been awaiting new music in HozierÔÇÖs traditional, folk rock style. In October 2022, ÔÇÿSwan Upon LedaÔÇÖ was released as a single raising awareness and funds to show solidarity with those fighting for reproductive rights. This single follows the Greek myth of Leda and Zeus. 

Taking inspiration from Dante AlighieriÔÇÖs ÔÇÿDivine ComedyÔÇÖ, HozierÔÇÖs new album follows the nine circles of hell explored in DanteÔÇÖs ÔÇÿInfernoÔÇÖ. 

Track 1: Eat Your Young 

The title song and first track on this EP is ÔÇÿEat Your YoungÔÇÖ. Hozier has described this as the first taste of the nine circles of hell explored in ÔÇÿUnreal UnearthÔÇÖ, with this track exploring the third circle, gluttony. On the 24th of February, a teaser snippet of this song was released, causing the sound to go viral on social media and creating a huge amount of anticipation for the song. 

The delicate introduction to this song, paired with the slow beat of the drum perfectly prefaces HozierÔÇÖs vocals at the beginning of this track. As already teased on social media, the introduction and the first verse are already very popular. There is a contrast between the lyrics and the pretty, alluring tone. With the large anticipation surrounding this song especially, this is the perfect start to a new album and the theme of the new releases: DanteÔÇÖs Inferno. I think this will be the most popular track on the album, with a lot of people already using the song on TikTok. 

It has been suggested that this song is hinting at a satirical 1729 essay by Johnathan Swift suggesting impoverished people in Ireland could sell their children to the rich to be cannibalised. There are often political underlying to HozierÔÇÖs songs, such as ÔÇÿSwan Upon LedaÔÇÖ, and this would be in line with the gluttonous tale. 

ÔÇ£Seven new ways that you can eat your young

Come and get someÔÇØ

Track 2: All Things End

The second song on this EP ÔÇÿAll Things EndÔÇÖ follows the sixth circle of hell, heresy. The theme of heresy has been explored in previous songs by Hozier, such as ÔÇÿTake Me To ChurchÔÇÖ, however, this song takes on the perspective of lack of belief, rather than the religious sense. This song is about embracing endings and moving on. This track had also been teased on social media, with a clip of Hozier performing this in a rehearsal. 

This is definitely the more soul-ey song on this EP, with a slower tempo and more intimate feel. The contrast between the first and second track demonstrate the range of HozierÔÇÖs new music and the kinds of things we can expect in his depiction of the nine circles of hell. My favourite part of this song is the gospel choir addition in the bridge, this is such a beautiful addition to the song and reminds me of ÔÇÿNina Cried PowerÔÇÖ. 

ÔÇ£And all things end

All that we intend is scrawled in sandÔÇØ

Track 3: Through Me (The Flood)

The third and final track of this EP is ÔÇÿThrough Me (The Flood). Hozier has explained the origins of this song, written in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it touches on topics of loss and death. This is the one song which has not been teased before its release. 

The slow build-up of this song, reflective of the flood depicted, is the perfect end to this EP. It is upbeat and soulful, touching on deep loss but also the reviving power of love. 

ÔÇ£Every time, I’d burn through the world, I’d see

That the world, it burns through meÔÇØ

With Hozier beginning to release his new album ÔÇÿUnreal UnearthÔÇÖ the excitement is building to new music and a new tour. This EP was a fantastic taste of what is to come for Hozier fans this year. 

Happy Saint PatrickÔÇÖs Day, and Happy Birthday Hozier!

Words by Molly Openshaw