Pastor and U2 authority John Cheek takes a look at the U2 EP 'Days Of Ash'

Ash Wednesday 2026 saw the unexpected, download-only release of a six-track U2 EP, 'Days Of Ash'; the first new band material to drop since a limited edition single was released in Asia at the tail-end of 2019. Bono and The Edge have together contributed to one or two soundtracks in the meantime, and the band themselves reimagined a number of their classic tracks for the 'Songs Of Surrender' compilation around three years ago. Yet with rumours of a new album coming at the end of 2026, 'Days Of Ash' caught U2-watchers by surprise and, once again, courted controversy - within the Church.

Long-term CCM artist Steve Camp didn't take long to turn to social-media to condemn it. Explaining how he used to be a fan of U2, Camp went on to describe 'Days Of Ash' as "anti-Trump, anti-American, anti-ICE, anti-law and order, pro-rioters, pro-Soros, pro-trans, pro-LGBTQIA+, pro-crimes against humanity, bathed in the dribble and stench of Social Justice/CRT excrement...another Marxist hiding out in Christian rags that have nothing to do with Biblical Christianity!"

Well, not knowing what CRT excrement is, I listened to the six tracks and tried hard to find any justification for Camp's tirade. I felt quite counter-cultural by doing so. Quite alternative and revolutionary...well, nearly. What I heard was far more Biblical than I had been told to expect and, not only that, was amongst the best of U2's work, both musically and lyrically. Right from the off with "American Obituary", we have The Edge's explosive, opening guitar riff that's very reminiscent of the opening riff on the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The UK" and an equally evocative opening line that cries out to God about injustice: "God above/A mother's love/With guiding hands to pick you up/To crush her like a coffee cup/Why?" A searing lament over the death of Minneapolis woman Renee Good, murdered by armed Customs and Immigration officers in her home city for the crime of protesting against one of Donald Trump's policies and then driving away in her own vehicle. Reminiscent of the prophet Amos in the Old Testament, this is a cry to a just God and a warning to those who would, at times, regard themselves as God's 'chosen people' - and yet would still excuse such atrocities. Musically, it's modern, updated punk rock with backing vocals akin to those of T Rex. And Cross Rhythms have shown considerable courage in giving this important work a lot of airplay. Few, if any, Christian radio stations in America would be as bold.

U2 have, in the past, tried to imagine conversations between different characters in the Bible, not least with "Until The End Of The World", an imagined encounter between Judas and Jesus following the betrayal. Now, on "The Tears Of Things", Bono imagines a conversation between King David and God, from David's point-of-view. "I was David/Not Goliath/I was born in Bethlehem". Melodic and visceral, a song in three movements (kind of) and, of course, the band competent enough to pull it off. "I was made for worship/Before I spoke I sang", and Bono is possibly referring to himself, but certainly, to the author of many of the Psalms. Not for the only time on this EP do we get Scripture being quoted: "Let my people go."

"Song Of The Future" is the most commercial sounding of the six tracks. It showcases the talents of the other members of U2 and not least a tremendous guitar part from The Edge. This is modern day blues in response to the madness that we hear about on the news and see on our early evening television screens. Back behind the drums is Larry Mullen Jr, after a break of several years and a not-inconsiderable amount of surgery to his hands, arms and back.

"Wildpeace" is a surprise in its own right - a spoken-word piece from Adeola Fayehun, a female voice rather than that of Bono, with U2 providing an ethereal-sounding background. Whispers of wolves and lambs and cease-fires force the listener to listen closely.

"One Life At A Time" has a lyric that could easily be addressing an evangelist, or Bono, or both. It also refers to hope, dreams, destiny and answers the refrain, "You say you wanna save the world/How ya gonna do that?" with more Scripture, "Perfect love casts out fear," and the implication that it'll be one-life-at-a-time, with each human being of infinite worth, more than any strategy or formula, principle or philosophy.

"Yours Eternally" ends the collection on another ethereal, heavenly note with guitarist The Edge's backing-vocals almost as prominent as the lead-vocal. 'Days Of Ash' overall evokes the warning from the prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Steve Camp isn't the only one who should heed that prophetic warning - all of us in the West, including the churches, ought to pay careful attention to this profound truth in these uncertain times. In an age when some churches have severely compromised biblical faith in favour of political allegiance and nationalistic zeal, we all need to allow God's Word to challenge us, change us and heal us.