U2 surprised fans this Thursday, the 19th, with the release of their new EP, Days of Ash , composed of six unreleased songs that address current social and political issues. The work arrives almost a decade after the band's last original material, Songs of Experience , from 2017.
According to the band themselves, Days of Ash was conceived as an immediate response to the most pressing global events. The lyrics address themes such as political violence, international conflicts, and stories of people who have faced injustice—including tributes to individuals whose lives were tragically cut short.
The opening track, “American Obituary,” pays tribute to Renée Good , the Minneapolis woman who was shot and killed during an ICE operation in the United States in January. “Song of the Future” draws inspiration from the Woman, Life, Freedom in Iran and quotes Sarina Esmailzadeh , a 16-year-old girl killed by Iranian security forces during the 2022 protests.
“One Life At A Time” pays tribute to Palestinian teacher and activist Awdah Hathaleen , who was killed in the West Bank following an attack by an Israeli settler the previous year. “Wildpeace” is an adaptation of a poem by Israeli writer Yehuda Amichai , performed by Nigerian artist Adeola . “Yours Eternally” features a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia , vocalist of the Ukrainian band Antytila , who served on the front lines of the conflict against Russia.
In a press release, vocalist Bono said that “it was thrilling to have the four of us back in the studio during the last year.” He continued: “The songs on Days of Ash have a very different mood and theme from those we’re releasing on our album later this year. These EP tracks couldn’t wait. These songs were impatient to be released. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lament. Celebratory songs will come later, we’re working on them now. Because, despite all the evil we see normalized daily on our screens, there’s nothing normal about these crazy, maddening times. And we need to stand against them before we can regain faith in the future” [via Variety] .
In addition to the music, the release includes a special edition of the band's official magazine, Propaganda , featuring interviews, lyrics, and commentary from the members, celebrating the publication's 40th anniversary.
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