U2 releases first new music in nine years inspired by political climate

The six-track EP, which is called "U2 - Days of Ash", is the group's first new material in nine years and is inspired by the current political climate.

The release of the EP coincides with the return of drummer Larry Mullen to the group after over a year following surgery to counteract damage to his elbows, knees and neck after years of drumming.

Also featuring on the new collection of songs is Ed Sheeran, as well as a Ukrainian musician-turned-soldier [Taras Topolia].

The EP is broken down into five new songs and what the band has called "a selected poem", which they have described as being as a response to those "fighting on the frontline for freedom."

As per the name, it was released on Ash Wednesday.

A message from the band reads: "On this Ash Wednesday, Days of Ash is released as a self-contained collection of five new songs and a selected poem - 'Amercial Obituary', 'The Tears Of Things', 'Song Of The Future', 'Wildpeace', 'One Life At A Time', and 'Yours Eternally'."

The latter features Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia.

The announcement goes on to say that: "This EP is a response to current events inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the frontlines of freedom.

"Four of the five tracks are about individuals - a mother, a father, a teenage girl, whose lives were brutally cut short - and a soldier who'd rather be singing but is ready to die for the freedom of his country."

U2 has also released a one-off addition of "Propaganda", 40 years after the fan magazine was first issued in 1986.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.