U2 have released a new standalone six-track EP, Days of Ash, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The project was unveiled by Island Records on Ash Wednesday and arrives ahead of a new studio album expected later in 2026.
@radionova100fm'You have the right to remain silent. Or not' Bono U2 are staying true to their identity with the release of a politically charged EP, Days of Ash Will you listen to it?♬ original sound - Radio Nova 100
Described as a “self-contained collection of five new songs and a poem” framed as “six postcards from the present,” the EP features American Obituary, The Tears Of Things, Song Of The Future, Wildpeace, One Life At A Time and Yours Eternally (ft. Ed Sheeran & Taras Topolia). The band say the tracks are “an immediate response” to current events and inspired by “the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the front lines of freedom.”
The release is accompanied by a special one-off digital edition of U2’s official magazine, Propaganda, first launched in 1986. Titled Six Postcards From The Present… Wish We Weren’t Here, the 52-page issue features new interviews and insights into the EP’s themes. In an opening note, the band writes: “We believe in a world where borders are not erased by force,” adding, “We don’t call for war. We don’t celebrate violence.” The message concludes: “peace lasts only when it is rooted in law, restraint, and respect for human life - on every side.”
Four of the five songs focus on individuals whose lives were cut short. Bono said it was a “thrill having the four of us back together in the studio over the last year,” explaining, “These EP tracks couldn’t wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world.” He described them as “songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation. Songs of celebration will follow, we’re working on those now… because for all the awfulness we see normalised daily on our small screens, there’s nothing normal about these mad and maddening times, and we need to stand up to them before we can go back to having faith in the future. And each other.”
The politically charged American Obituary addresses the killing of Renée Nicole Macklin Good in Minneapolis. Bono called it “a song of fury… but more than that… a song of grief,” adding, “If you let people away with that… you can kiss your democracy goodbye.”
Days of Ash also marks the return of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. following injury. He reflected, “it turns out that I’m not invincible and when you don’t listen to your body, the consequences are inevitable.” Contributions from the EP will support Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and UNHCR.
A short documentary film to accompany the song Yours Eternally will also be released on February 24th.
