After four long years, Hozier finally released his new EP, Nina Cried Power, on Thursday, Sept. 6. He gained popularity in 2014 for his debut album, Hozier, and won multiple awards for it. Not too soon after, he found himself with a growing fanbase. His current EP was inspired by his love for American rock, and provided homage to the spirit of protest.

Nina Cried Power has a four songs on it. From the beginning, I could tell his sound had changed since his first album. The first song, Nina Cried Power, starts with a strong beat, soon layered with Hozier’s heart-wrenching voice and supported by almost choral-sounding singers. It sounds like something you might expect from a live music performance at a restaurant or nightclub. It made me feel more powerful and ready to face whatever the world threw at me. The song progresses from slow moving verses to a rousing and strong chorus. It is combined with sounds of R&B and gospel, creating something totally new, but not at all bad from him. The sound dabbles in what some mainstream pop is doing while keeping Hozier’s original, earthier tone.

The second song is a little gentler. While Nina Cries Power was all about empowerment, NFWMB is slower and more haunting. The guitar is soft and Hozier’s layered vocals create a serene sound. It sounds like something I would listen to while sitting on the couch and reading a good book. It’s completely relaxed and contains more vibes from his first album. The deep, resonant chords seem to completely wrap around you, pulling you into the music. The song ends in near silence, with a feeling of peace and resolution. Personally, I felt NFWMB was the highlight of the album, because of the easy and relaxed listening experience it gave.

Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue) is the third song on the album, and sounds more similar to the first. The country-like vibe of the song makes it interesting at the start, but after a while gets repetitive and dull. However, it was a good contrast to NFWMB. He managed to keep a similar voice, but changed the rhythm of it drastically. Moment’s Silence was a song that just kept on moving, discussing topics like God and love.

The album ends with Shrike. This one was more atmospheric, like the second song. It had a steady beat, but the instrumental part was still soothing. It manages to sound more natural and peaceful than the other songs on the album, making it a decent final song. Unfortunately, it was also probably the most forgettable song of the album. Afterwards, I didn’t really feel anything towards it and was left feeling slightly unsettled when it finished. I couldn’t pick a different song for the finale, but in a way, it made the listening experience feel incomplete.

Nina Cried Power, the title track, was rousing and powerful but the quality of the songs seemed to decay as the album went on. By the end of Shrike, I was left feeling a little disappointed, but slightly satisfied. It felt as though expectations had been built for four years, and then let down slightly. But that shouldn’t deter anyone from listening to Hozier’s album. It may use a new sound, but he continues to work elements of religion and love into his music, showing that deep down, Hozier hasn’t really changed.

In the end, Hozier’s EP went in two contrasting directions. Half of the songs were softer, atmospheric ballads while the others were more powerful. He didn’t stick with a common sound, which made for a short, but intriguing album.