U2 Unleashes Politically Charged EP 'Days of Ash' After Seven-Year Hiatus
Legendary rock band U2 has broken their musical silence with the release of Days of Ash, their first collection of new songs since 2017. This six-track EP is a powerful, politically charged work that confronts global injustices, focusing on high-profile deaths and activist movements worldwide. In an extensive interview accompanying the release, Bono lambasts figures like ICE, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu, while celebrating the band's enduring commitment to social issues.
Songs of Defiance and Dismay: The EP's Core Themes
The opening track, American Obituary, is a hard rock anthem dedicated to Renee Good, a mother of three killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7 while protesting ICE activity. Bono's lyrics starkly depict her death, with lines like "Renee Good, born to die free / American mother of three / seventh day January / a bullet for each child, as you can see." He criticizes the labeling of Good as a "domestic terrorist" by Kristi Noem, head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, calling it "an attempt to assassinate meaning itself." Bono demands an independent inquiry into her death, warning that such rhetoric threatens democracy.
Song of the Future shifts focus to Iran's Women, Life, Freedom protest movement, honoring Sarina Esmailzadeh, a 16-year-old who died in September 2022 after being beaten by Iranian security forces, according to Amnesty International. Bono sings, "Sarina, Sarina, she's the song of the future playing in my mind," and condemns Iran's ruling class as "a priestly class of men whose subjective interpretation of sacred text becomes a club to beat the heads in of anyone who disagrees."
The EP also addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with One Life at a Time, a song about Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist killed in the West Bank in July 2025 by an Israeli settler. Bono describes the killing as "heinous" and hopes the track serves as "a balm." Additionally, The Tears of Things draws from Richard Rohr's book, applying Jewish prophetic wisdom to modern violence, while featuring a recitation of Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai's poem Wildpeace by Nigerian musician Adeola.
Collaborations and Global Critiques
The closing track, Yours Eternally, features Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian musician-soldier Taras Topolia, inspired by a letter from a soldier in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Bono praises Sheeran as a "whirling dervish of a talent" and Topolia for his "dark sense of humour and defiant spirit." He questions Putin's ambitions, stating, "Ask anyone in east Germany or Poland or Latvia if they think Putin will stop at Ukraine if he can get away with it? He'd find an excuse to invade Ireland if it suited his purposes." A documentary accompanying the song, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus, will release on February 24 to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Bono also acknowledges conflicts in Sudan and criticizes the Trump administration for cutting U.S. foreign aid. He emphasizes combating antisemitism and Islamophobia, noting, "The rape, murder and abduction of Israelis on 7 October was evil, but self-defence is no defence for the sweeping brutality of Netanyahu's response."
Band Members Reflect on Activism and Recovery
In the accompanying fanzine, The Edge writes, "We believe in a world where borders are not erased by force. Where culture, language and memory are not silenced by fear. Where the dignity of a people is not negotiable. This belief isn't temporary. It isn't political fashion. It's the ground we stand on." Larry Mullen Jr. adds that the band has never shied away from taking positions, despite potential "blowback," calling it "a big side of who we are." Mullen Jr., who missed U2's Las Vegas Sphere residency due to neck surgery, shares his recovery journey, adapting his playing posture and approach to return to music.
Bassist Adam Clayton highlights cultural picks like the band Geese and writer Deborah Levy, advocating for "tolerance, freedom and choosing not to jump to judgment." Bono outlines his vision for a "radical centre" in politics, drawing from both conservative and democratic traditions to counter extremism.
Future Projects: A 'Defiantly Joyful' Album Ahead
U2 confirms a new album set for release later in 2026, separate from the EP material. Bono describes Days of Ash as "songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation," necessary for confronting "mad and maddening times." He promises the upcoming album will have "a carnival vibe ... a more defiantly joyful feel," focusing on celebration after addressing current crises. Despite the political messaging, Bono advises rationing bad news, noting, "there's only so much a soul can take."
This EP marks U2's first full new material since 2017's Songs of Experience, following reworkings and unreleased tracks in recent years. With Days of Ash, U2 reaffirms their role as a vital political voice, blending rock music with urgent social commentary.
