Unreal Unearth in Bloomington, MN

A song cycle inspired equally by the COVID-19 pandemic and
Dante
's 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
feel thick and murky even though it lacks neither hooks nor heart. It also doesn't skimp on eclecticism, winding its way from cloistered funk and plaintive ballads to soaring arena rock, slyly switching between widescreen and small-scale perspectives.
provides a guide through the murk, accentuating his empathetic murmur with full-throated pleas. His singing provides a human connection, but
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 album's hour-long running time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine