‘Days of Ash’
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U2 – DAYS OF ASH – EP REVIEW
U2 have surprise released a vital new EP, ‘Days of Ash’. Arriving on Ash Wednesday which also happens to be the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this surprise release hasn’t been forced onto people’s phones this time, but its message is one that does need to be heard!
This release is a big moment for the band, their first new music in nearly a decade, and an accompanying acknowledgement that an album will arrive later this year as well. But as the band have made clear – they felt these songs needed to be heard immediately.
Five songs, an a poem by Yehuda Amichai, these are protest songs addressing the killings of Renée Good, Sarina Esmailzadeh and Awdah Hathaleen – and the scary times that we live in. This is of course a band unafraid to address important subjects and they describe these as songs of defiance and dismay.
U2 are at their best when they have something to say and the vitality of these songs resonates sonically with their most urgent work. Produced again by Jacknife Lee, there are contributions from Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia on the closing track, ‘Yours Eternally’, which punctuates the short collection so well.
The new album later this year will have a different feel but on ‘Days of Ash’, U2 have reminded the world who they are and what they represent. As the final track says, “..If you have the chance to hope. It’s a duty..”!
