Hozier captivates on ‘Eat Your Young’ EP
By: Erin Corcoran
Hozier’s Eat Your Young is a 3-song EP and precursor to his upcoming album Unreal Unearth. Hozier has revealed on Instagram that the nine circles of hell served as inspiration for the project. The first track and title of the EP, “Eat Your Young," refers to gluttony, while “All Things End” encompasses the sin of heresy. With the religious symbolism set as the foundation, listeners are transported to Hozier’s world of impurity.
In “Eat Your Young,” Hozier sets the scene with references to preparation for a feast. With his silky smooth tone, the listener almost glosses over the fact that he is singing about over-consumption to the point it takes away from others. We hear about the obscenity of the situation in the chorus with lyrics, “skinnin’ the children for a war drum / puttin’ food on the table sellin’ bombs and guns / it’s quicker and easier to eat your young.” This song packs a punch with its heart beat-like drum and unfiltered lyrics. Listeners can experience the desire to overindulge in the lyrics, “I won’t lie if there’s somethin’ to be gained / There’s money to be made / whatever’s still to come.” This reaffirms the idea of always wanting more, even when full. In the end, the steady bass and drum fade into an uplifting instrumental that carries us to the next song.
In the second track, “All Things End,” Hozier takes us back to church with his soulful vocals paired with a heavenly choir arrangement. The harmonies transcend with crescendos that will leave you in awe. What struck me most about “All Things End” is the devastation in accepting that we cannot hold on to people or experiences forever. I got the sense that he was pleading with listeners to let go and realize they may not have had much control in the beginning. This point is emphasized when he sings, “all that we intend is scrawled in sand or slips right through our hand.” Overall, this song feels like reaching the point of acceptance and hope for renewal in the lyrics “just knowing everything will end / we should not change our plan when we begin again.” This track perfectly captures the feeling of coming to terms with a situation in order to move on.
“Through Me (The Flood)” is the third and final track, one that was written during the height of the pandemic. Hozier paints a picture of a struggle with his captivating words filled with harsh imagery. What was intriguing about this song was that it starts with Hozier describing a man in a physical struggle to flip later and express his own strife. This switch helps solidify the theme that this fight and sense of hopelessness are collective.
Even though Eat Your Young only has three tracks, it is a swift reminder of Hozier’s powerhouse vocals that carry the listener all the way through. Our imagination is free to run wild in the space Hozier has built. With the nine circles of hell being the inspirational backbone of this album, I am excited to see how this idea expands on his upcoming album. Through Hozier’s unforgettable voice and riveting lyrics on Eat Your Young, he is able to expose the complexity of being human.