Legendary Irish rockers U2 are back with a powerful, standalone 6-track EP, Days of Ash, delivering a raw and urgent musical response to the world as it is today. The release comes ahead of their full album, expected later in 2026, and showcases a band deeply attuned to courage, sacrifice, and the human spirit.
The EP features five songs and a poem: American Obituary, The Tears of Things, Song of the Future, Wildpeace, One Life at a Time, and Yours Eternally—the latter featuring Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia. Each track reflects a personal story—of mothers, fathers, teenagers, and soldiers whose lives were tragically cut short, yet whose legacies inspire defiance, hope, and resilience.
“This EP couldn’t wait,” says Bono. “These are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation. For all the awfulness we see normalized daily on our small screens, there’s nothing normal about these mad and maddening times.”
Photo: Anton Corbjin
The tracks are rooted in real-world events:
-
American Obituary tells the story of Renée Nicole Macklin Good, a Minneapolis mother of three who was shot while peacefully protesting.
-
Song of the Future honors 16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh, an Iranian schoolgirl who became a symbol of freedom during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
-
One Life at a Time pays tribute to Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, advocating for peace amid conflict in the West Bank.
-
Yours Eternally brings Bono and The Edge together with Ukrainian soldier-musician Taras Topolia and Ed Sheeran, capturing courage on the frontlines of Ukraine.
Wildpeace, a poem by Israeli author Yehuda Amichai, is performed by Nigerian artist Adeola of Les Amazones d’Afrique with music from U2 and Jacknife Lee, blending poetry and song in a haunting, timely meditation.
To accompany the EP, U2 revives their iconic fan magazine Propaganda in a one-off edition, U2 – Days of Ash: Six Postcards From The Present… Wish We Weren’t Here. This 52-page publication includes exclusive interviews with filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus and Taras Topolia, offering insight into the creative and human stories behind the music.
Larry Mullen Jr. emphasizes the urgency behind the release: “The way the world is now feels like the right moment. We’ve never shied away from taking a position, and sometimes that can get messy, but it’s a big part of who we are and why we still exist.”
Days of Ash is more than an EP—it’s a call to witness, a tribute to courage, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, music can illuminate hope.
The EP is out now, with the documentary for Yours Eternally set to debut February 24, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.