Unreal Unearth Unending

A song cycle inspired equally by the COVID-19 pandemic and Dantes Inferno, Unreal Unearth confirms that underneath all of his outpouring of emotion and roots-music flair, Hozier yearns to be an art-rocker. He has ambition and a yen for atmosphere, emphasizing feel not only on the surface but in the rhythms, a combination that makes Unreal Unearth feel thick and murky even though it lacks neither hooks nor heart. It also doesnt skimp on eclecticism, winding its way from cloistered funk and plaintive ballads to soaring arena rock, slyly switching between widescreen and small-scale perspectives. Hozier provides a guide through the murk, accentuating his empathetic murmur with full-throated pleas. His singing provides a human connection, but Unreal Unearth often gets swallowed up by its own vibe. A bevy of producers, highlighted by Jennifer Decilveo (Bat for Lashes, Anne-Marie) and Daniel Tannenbaum (Kendrick Lamar), do admirable, evocative work, but the songs and feeling get lost under the layers of sound, particularly at the albums hour-long running time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine