U2 is returning to the music scene with its first release of new tracks in nearly a decade. On Feb. 18, 2026, the Irish rock band issued Days of Ash, a six track extended play reminiscent of the group’s quintessential blend of musical singularity and pointed political messaging. Much like the band’s previous albums (Joshua Tree and War, to name a few), Days of Ash does not shy away from the contentious. In fact, the extended play (EP) targets a number of ongoing controversial topics, including the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Days of Ash, totaling nearly 23 minutes in playtime, consists entirely of protest songs. However, the theme varies throughout the record. The set begins with “American Obituary,” a tribute to Renee Good, the 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen shot in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Another track, “Song of the Future,” memorializes Sarina Esmailzadeh, a teenage girl and member of the Women, Life, Freedom movement who was beaten to death by Iranian forces. “Yours Eternally,” the final song on the EP, features Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian singer Taras Topolia. Possibly the most inherently optimistic of the band’s new releases, the chorus is a reminder to maintain hope in the midst of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russia.
In keeping with the EP’s profusion of culturally relevant songs, three tracks on the record have direct connections to Gaza.
“One Life At A Time” is dedicated to Awdah Hathaleen. The 31-year-old activist was killed by Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler, in the West Bank during the summer of 2025. Video footage depicts Levi with a handgun pointed at various Palestinian civilians. He was briefly held by police, but was released with no charges after a short period of house arrest, according to NPR.
In 2023, Bono (U2’s lead singer) condemned Hamas’s October 7 attacks during a show at the Sphere, changing the verses to “Pride (In the Name of Love),” but he made no reference to Israel’s historical oppression of Palestinians. Bono has largely remained silent regarding the ongoing conflict, contributing to backlash from fans who note the discrepancies between U2’s muted response and their typical role as outspoken voices for peace.
Days of Ash is the band’s most explicit commentary on Gaza yet, and while the songs are by no means a clear endorsement of one particular group, the lyrics firmly advocate for non-violence.
One student at the College who is an avid U2 listener said that “[he] thought ‘Wildpeace’ was particularly interesting.”
“Wildpeace” is the fourth song on the EP. It diverges significantly from the guitar-heavy style of the other tracks. The lyrics are a reading by Nigerian artist Adeola Fayehun of an Israeli poet, Yehuda Amichai’s, poem. In a stark denouncement of war, Fayehun declares, “Let it come like wildflowers, suddenly, because the field must have it: wildpeace.”
“It’s unlike any other song on the record,” another student explains. “But in general, I think Days of Ash as a whole is a breakaway from the band’s typical sound. Nevertheless, even with these differences, it’s still political. U2 always has something to say. I think they are trying to bridge those ever-prominent gaps, to create some commonality and compassion in the world, or to say, ‘Let’s come together.’ ”
~ Maya Corrie `29
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