Irish rock band U2 has suddenly released new music for the first time in almost a decade, and it’s very different from their past work. On Ash Wednesday (February 18, 2026), the group dropped a six-song collection called Days of Ash. Instead of waiting to release a full album later this year, they said these songs felt too urgent to hold back.
The first track on the EP is called “American Obituary.” This song is a tribute to Renee Good, a Minnesota mother of three who was shot and killed on January 7 during a large federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. U2 uses the song to remember her life while also criticizing the way the situation unfolded.
In the lyrics, frontman Bono sings lines that name Good, mention her family, and repeat the idea that America should “rise against the people of the lie.” Some of the words reference what happened to her in Minneapolis, including the date and location.
The band’s presentation of the song is direct and unfiltered. Bono has described the track as both full of grief and full of anger. He and his bandmates said they felt this music needed to come out now because of its emotional weight.
Good’s partner and family responded to the tribute with statements of gratitude. They said she believed in kindness, community and standing up for others, and that they hoped the song would make people think and bring positive change.
Days of Ash isn’t just about the United States. Each song takes inspiration from real people around the world who have lost their lives in large, difficult situations. For example, another track, “Song of the Future,” honors Sarina Esmailzadeh, a teenage protester from Iran who died during nationwide demonstrations for freedom. A third song called “One Life at a Time” remembers Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist who was killed in the West Bank.
There is also a track called “The Tears of Things” that asks how people can stay compassionate in times of violence. Another piece on the EP is “Wildpeace,” which is actually a poem by an Israeli poet that has been put to music. The final song, “Yours Eternally,” features guest performances by British singer Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian musician Taras Topolia, and is written from the perspective of a soldier in the Ukraine war.
U2 has a long history of using their music to talk about big issues. They’ve written songs about peace, human rights, and politics before, and Days of Ash continues that tradition. This EP is their first original music release since the 2017 album Songs of Experience.
The band didn’t only drop the songs online. They also released a new edition of their long-running fan magazine called Propaganda, which includes interviews, lyrics, and background about why these songs were written. Bono and the other members openly discuss their creative process and why they chose to share these tracks now.
Critics and fans alike have noticed how personal and direct the music feels. Songs like “American Obituary” are sharper and more confrontational than much of U2’s recent work, and Bono himself said that the lyrics were inspired in part by older protest music and poetic styles.
The release of Days of Ash comes at a time when many artists and musicians are responding to major news and social issues through their work. U2’s contribution is one of the most high-profile musical reactions yet, especially from a major band that has influenced rock music for decades.
Even though Days of Ash is emotionally heavy and politically charged, U2 says it’s not the end of what they have planned. They’ve confirmed a full-length album is on the way later in 2026, and they’ve hinted that it will have a different tone — more joyful and celebratory.
