has dropped a surprise new EP titled Days of Ash — their first new collection of original music in nearly a decade — releasing the six‑track project on 18 February 202
The Days of Ash EP is a politically charged body of work that tackles urgent global issues. Tracks address topics such as the killing of Minneapolis mother Renée Good during a U.S. federal immigration operation, protests in Iran, and the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East. The project includes five new songs and a musical setting of a poem by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai.
One of the standout pieces on the EP is “Yours Eternally,” a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian singer‑soldier Taras Topolia, which has also been accompanied by a short documentary film directed by Ilya Mikhaylus. The film, released around the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlights the experiences of those fighting on the front lines.
Reactions to Days of Ash have underscored how urgent and unfiltered the work feels. Critics and early listeners describe the songs as protest‑driven and emotionally direct, reaffirming U2’s longstanding tradition of blending rock music with social commentary. The band’s official materials describe the EP’s tracks as “impatient to be out in the world” due to the intensity of the global crises they reflect on.
While Days of Ash stands as a bold statement on contemporary issues, U2 have also indicated that this release is just one part of a larger creative year. Bono has suggested that a full studio album with a markedly different tone — more celebratory and expansive — is expected later in 2026, signaling that fans can expect even more new music from the band soon.
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