Hozier’s Powerful Voice Sweeps You off Your Feet [video]

On first listen, Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” sounds like a powerful, Southern-influenced song driven by lead singer, Andrew Hozier Byrne’s lower register. After viewing the track’s chilling video, though, the frightening tale creates a much more literal and unfortunate interpretation of lyrics like, “I’ll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife.”

The song is immediately impactful, with Hozier’s fit-for-the-gospel voice sweeping you off your feet and seeping into your bones. The only thing supporting him is a beautiful, sparse piano line that almost seems to get lost in the midst of his preaching — the balance gives Hozier ample room to impress us with his vocals. His EP of the same name draws you in with the title track before varying between Southern rock inspired twang and sweet, acoustic folk.

He also seized the opportunity to create a video with a timely message that, in his own words, “references the recent increase of organized attacks and torturing of homosexuals in Russia.” Cynics may beg the question of whether Hozier’s powerful song and even more powerful video are slightly hokey, but the message of the visual is, at the least, well-intentioned. It’s an impressive showing, all from a guy born in Ireland on St. Patrick’s day, taking on global issues and creating music worthy of universal recognition.