Hozier | 'Unaired' EP (2024) - Review
How does Hozier's newest EP hold up to his album from last year?
Hozier’s early music career was halted by hiatuses and breaks from the spotlight, leaving his audiences wanting more. But it’s good to have him back.
Originally breaking on to the scene with his self-titled 2014 album, the first track ‘Take Me To Church’ reached astronomic heights that Hozier failed to reach with his second 2019 album, ‘Wasteland Baby!’. Dotted with some Hozier classics like ‘Almost (Sweet Music)’, ‘Movement’, and ‘Would That I’, this album built his devoted fanbase as the artist continued to find his feet.
However, Hozier’s recent releases have brought him back from the dead (a five-year hiatus). His album ‘Unreal Unearth’ was released in August last year to great critical renown. With the track ‘Too Sweet’ going viral on TikTok and sitting comfortably in the charts, the 2023 alt-album was a success – gaining a perfect score of 5 from Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone stating that “Hozier isn’t just growing as an artist, he’s being reborn”.
But how does his most recent EP hold up with his renaissance?
The trio of songs have cemented Hozier as an outspoken artist, unafraid to address real world issues with bold lyrics and instrumentals.
Track 1: Nobody’s Soldier
Hozier wastes no time in arresting the listener with his first track. Gone are the days of his emotive, yet timid and hushed vocals that listeners can attribute to his earlier songs, ‘Cherry Wine’ and ‘Like Real People Do’.
He belts throughout each chorus, accompanied by brazen guitars and synths that blare like alarms throughout the sign of the times song, bookending the anti-war messages he addresses.
“Sick to my skin watching the news again // Whatever you choose, you lose out in the long run”
With mass genocide, riots, and political unrest running rampant in the world, ‘Nobody’s Soldier’ tells the story of someone who refuses to give in to society’s systems and ruminates on what effects witnessing this trauma will have on a person.
The chorus’ lyrics consolidate the desire for the speaker to stay true to himself throughout this conflict and his upheaval.
“I don’t wanna choose between // Being a salesman or a soldier … // I’m taking no orders // Gonna be Nobody’s Soldier”
Speaking out on current affairs is not new for Hozier. This first song snarls at other public figures who may be discouraged from commenting on public discourse. The singer experienced multiple concertgoers walking out of his New York show in early June after he called for a free Palestine:
“We wouldn’t want to see anybody subjected to the kind of violence, indiscriminate bombing, that we are seeing on our TV screens. The kind of assault and genocidal violence that Rafah’s facing.”
This kind of advocacy is not widely adopted by other artists and celebrities, so it’s refreshing to hear a big artist of the current music scene take a stand against these real-life conflicts in his newest release.
Track 2: July
The next track switches in mood and genre, presenting Hozier’s versatility as an artist. Portraying a jazzier, soul swing to the EP, Hozier personifies the month of July to reflect on his winter doom and gloom shifting, referencing the Irish government’s lifting of COVID restrictions in the summer of 2021.
“July is still coming // Just knowing that’s getting me through”
This song doesn’t open many new doors for Hozier as a talented artist; written at the same time as ‘Wildflower and Barley’ from his previous release, ‘July’ offers up a similar feel.
Jazzy guitars, an intricate bassline, and emotional lyrics are hallmarks of most of Hozier’s back catalogue of songs. Which doesn’t mean that it’s bad by any stretch, it’s just nothing new.
Track 3: That You Are
The last song of the EP is the weakest of the three. Hozier is joined by Bedouine, who makes her musical comeback after a three-year hiatus. The two singers assume the roles of lovers, trading evocative verses that discuss their deep relationship.
The delicate quality of the song is a whiplash from the beginning of the EP and doesn’t round off the collection of songs as effectively as I hoped, with the chorus repeating a largely underwhelming emotive line.
“I’d be anywhere that you are”
The duo’s vocals blend well together and the chorus offers up some decent harmonies, but the rest of the song lacks conviction and vitality.
After Hozier wrote: “Lay me gently in the cold dark earth, // No grave can hold my body down // I’ll crawl home to her” in ‘Work Song’ (along with hundreds of other examples I could include), I’m left shortchanged by the conclusion of the EP — paling in comparison to the more captivating lyrics on love that Hozier’s music is capable of.
Making up the offcuts from ‘Unreal Unearth’, ‘Unaired’ holds up fairly well on a fundamental level. The newest EP offers emotive and dynamic ruminations on the state of the world and current affairs.
‘Nobody’s Soldier’ is the strongest of the trio with its blaring synths and descending bassline keeping the listener intrigued with its strong anti-war message. ‘July’ is more of the same from Hozier, but still a pleasant listen nevertheless with catchy choruses and sanguine lyrics. Whereas ‘That You Are’ offers a lacklustre discussion of two lovers discussing their adoration for one another.