New Release: Days of Ash by U2 (Island/Universal)

Ready or not (or should it read like it or not), U2 has dropped a new EP titled Days of Ash. It’s their first new music since Songs of Experience nine years ago. The Irish foursome, who released their debut Boy in 1980, has experienced decades of ups and downs throughout their illustrious career. Many may best remember the group from their Apple Music auto-drop of their Songs of Innocence album in 2014. They were dragged mercilessly for that act, and have since apologized to the world, able to laugh at themselves in the process.

A self-imposed hiatus was in order as band members worked on personal projects and took a healthy, much needed vacation from their life’s work. Having released remastered/anniversary/deluxe editions of previous works, the boys also released Songs of Surrender, a massive collection of (40!) songs rerecorded and reimagined. The double album received mixed reviews for the stripped down, more acoustic versions. Some hardcore U2 fans were not loving these new versions, while others welcomed the rebirth of hits from the band’s back catalogue.

The EP was released on Ash Wednesday, hence the Days of Ash title. The musicians were raised in a combination of Protestant and Irish Catholic homes, and Bono has never held back in writing and singing songs related to those branches. However, despite his alleged messianic complex, he’ll be the first to question God, authority, and tradition – all out loud. At times, he espouses spirituality with a wink and a nod. In the EP’s first single, “American Obituary,” Bono sings, “You have the right to remain silent, or not” along with “The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power.” Knowing the band’s punk inspirations is important, as hints of The Clash and Patti Smith are evident here.

The song pays tribute to Renee Good, the mother of three who was murdered by ICE in Minneapolis. Early U2 was lauded for their activism and support of human rights for all marginalized people. This is no different, as Bono sings, “To desecrate domestic bliss / Three bullets blast, three babies kissed / Renee the domestic terrorist???”

“The Tears Of Things” addresses the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, clarified by the opening line “There’s no start to this story/ And I can see no end.” It’s a beauty of a song. Bono’s voice is as pure and strong as ever, emoting that heart-on-his-sleeve delivery. “Sarina” leans heavily on women’s rights, specifically the death of Sarina Esmailzadeh who, at the age of 16, was murdered by Iranian law enforcement while protesting for equal rights in Iran. She has become a symbol for the world, especially young women. The song is as relevant as it gets in 2026.

“Wildpeace” is a spoken word poem written by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai and read by Nigerian journalist Adeola Fayehun. The work discusses a wish for peace amid the never-ending struggle between the two factions. “Not the peace of a cease-fire, not even the vision of the wolf and the lamb, but rather as in the heart when the excitement is over and you can talk only about a great weariness,” Adeola reads.

Bono recently stated this EP could not wait for the upcoming full album release. “They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation,” the singer said, adding “These songs were impatient to be out in the world.” On “One Life At A Time,” Bono seems to be asking himself “You say you wanna save the world / Well how you gonna get that right,” possibly commenting on his lifelong attempt to end poverty, war, and AIDS. The song seeks to explain the murder of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, who was shot and killed by an Israeli settler in the summer of 2025. A journalist and documentarian, Hathaleen’s death was denounced by Amnesty International who wrote “it was a devastating tragedy and a brutal reminder of the relentless violence faced by Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.”

The final song on the EP, “Yours Eternally,” finds U2 working with Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia with his band Antytila. Topolia served in the Ukrainian army after his country was invaded by Russia in 2022. After ending his military stint, he served as a spokesman for the Youth Council under the President of Ukraine and as a former UNICEF Youth Ambassador. He and members of Antytila can be heard singing the chorus and “Volia,” Ukranian for “Freedom.”

In the end, U2’s legacy may not be determined by their music alone, but more likely by their message. Love him or hate him (or if you’re just indifferent about him), Bono has spent his entire career as an activist, promoting social justice and raising awareness for the needs of people all over the world.