Legendary Irish rockers U2 are back in the studio—and the spotlight—with a raw, urgent 6-track EP, Days of Ash. Dropping ahead of their full 2026 album, this standalone release is a collection of songs and poetry inspired by courage, sacrifice, and people standing up in extraordinary times.
The EP features five new songs and a poem: American Obituary, The Tears of Things, Song of the Future, Wildpeace, One Life at a Time, and Yours Eternally, the last featuring Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia. Each track tells a story—of mothers, fathers, teenagers, and soldiers whose lives were cut short, yet whose courage resonates across the globe.
“These songs couldn’t wait,” says Bono. “They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation… For all the awfulness we see normalized on our small screens, there’s nothing normal about these times.” Larry Mullen Jr. adds, “We’ve never shied away from taking a stand, and sometimes that gets messy—but it’s why we’re still here.”
Photo: Anton Corbijn
Highlights:
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American Obituary tells the story of Renée Nicole Macklin Good, a Minneapolis mother shot while peacefully protesting.
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Song of the Future honors 16-year-old Iranian schoolgirl Sarina Esmailzadeh, a symbol of freedom.
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One Life at a Time celebrates Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, a nonviolent voice for change.
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Yours Eternally brings Bono and The Edge together with Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian soldier-musician Taras Topolia, a testament to courage on the frontlines.
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Wildpeace, a poem by Yehuda Amichai, comes alive with music and vocals by Adeola of Les Amazones d’Afrique.
U2 also revives their iconic Propaganda zine in a one-off 52-page edition, including interviews with filmmakers and musicians behind the project.
For Nashville music fans who value stories that hit hard and inspire, Days of Ash is more than an EP—it’s a rallying cry, a reminder of music’s power to illuminate, challenge, and move the heart.
The EP is out now, with the short documentary for Yours Eternally premiering February 24, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.