Bono and U2 unleash a bold, politically charged collection, presenting their first new music since 2017 in an EP titled Days of Ash. The six-track set centers on notable, high-profile deaths and human rights struggles across the globe, opening with American Obituary, which revisits the killing of Renee Good by ICE agents during a Minneapolis protest. The song’s stark lines—“Renee Good, born to die free / American mother of three”—paired with a punchy Edge riff, frame a narrative about a mother of three mowed down amid civil disobedience, and pose the question of who gets labeled a threat when power feels emboldened.
In a lengthy fanzine interview that accompanies the release, Bono describes Good as a woman devoted to peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience. He voices deep concern over her being branded a domestic terrorist by Kristi Noem, head of the US Department of Homeland Security, calling the label an attempt to erase meaning and truth itself. He argues that tolerating such rhetoric risks eroding democracy and presses for an independent inquiry into Good’s death.
The track Song of the Future highlights Iran’s Women, Life, Freedom movement, naming Sarina Esmailzadeh, who died at 16 during protests in September 2022, as documented by Amnesty International. While Iranian officials claimed she took her own life, the song underscores the human cost of state violence. Bono portrays Iran’s ruling class as a “priestly” caste whose dogmatic readings of sacred texts become weapons against dissent.
One Life at a Time addresses the 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank by an Israeli settler, a figure connected to the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Bono calls the act heinous and hopes the track offers comfort or “a balm.”
The Tears of Things borrows its title from Richard Rohr’s book, which uses insights from Jewish prophets to navigate contemporary violence and anger. The lyrics imagine a dialogue between Michelangelo’s David and his sculptor. The EP further features a reading of Yehuda Amichai’s poem Wildpeace, performed by Adeola with U2’s musical accompaniment.
Bono emphasizes the moral contribution of Judaism to Western civilization and condemns antisemitism alongside other forms of bigotry. He condemns Israel’s October 7 attacks as evil, while also criticizing disproportionate Israeli responses. He also notes the human toll and displacement caused by conflict in Sudan and criticizes the U.S. administration’s foreign aid cuts.
The closing track, Yours Eternally, features Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia, a Ukrainian musician-soldier whose experiences in the conflict with Russia inspired the song. The collaboration traces back to a Kyiv metro shelter performance in May 2022, arranged by Sheeran. Bono reflects on the potential for invasion if leaders see no consequence, drawing a provocative comparison to Ireland’s security situation. He praises Sheeran’s talent and Topolia’s resilient, darkly humorous spirit.
A short documentary accompanying Yours Eternally, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus and shot amid frontline scenes, will premiere on February 24 to mark four years since Russia’s invasion.
U2’s recent activity includes sporadic new songs like Atomic City and Your Song Saved My Life. They released the album Songs of Surrender in 2023 and unreleased material from the How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb era in 2024, but Days of Ash marks the first collection of new material since Songs of Experience (2017). In a companion fanzine, The Edge speaks of a world where borders aren’t forcibly erased, where culture, language, and memory aren’t silenced by fear, and where the dignity of peoples remains non-negotiable—an enduring stance the band maintains.
Larry Mullen Jr notes that activism—dating back to Amnesty and Greenpeace—has always been part of U2’s identity, even if it invites blowback. He reveals performing behind the scenes with new neck-surgery recovery and describes the adjustments he’s made to his playing to return to the kit.
In the same zine, bassist Adam Clayton highlights cultural preferences and stresses the importance of tolerance, freedom, and withholding snap judgments.
Bono envisions a political “radical centre” that draws from both sides of the spectrum to counter extremism. He laments that the death of truth breeds evil but expresses confidence that principled people will rise. He notes friendships across the political spectrum who share concerns about rising polarisation and suggests a centrist approach as a stabilizing force.
U2 also confirms plans for a traditional album later in the year, distinct from Days of Ash. Bono clarifies that the EP’s mood and themes differ from what will appear on the forthcoming album, which he envisions having a more festive, carnival-like energy. He stresses that while the band’s music will continue to engage with urgent global issues, it’s important to temper political messaging so as not to exhaust the listener.
Would you react differently to music that openly addresses political and humanitarian crises, or do you think art should avoid current events in favor of escapism? If you have opinions on whether artists should directly challenge political leaders, share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
