Irish rock titans U2 have surprised fans with their second extended play release of 2026, titled “Easter Lily.” This six-track collection arrived just over forty days after their earlier EP, “Days of Ash,” marking a significant output of new material for the band.
This recent flurry of activity follows a period of relative quiet, largely attributed to drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s recovery from neck surgery. The release of these two EPs also coincides with confirmation last year that the band is actively recording a new studio album, anticipated for release later this year.
Lead singer Bono described the upcoming studio album as a “noisy, messy, unreasonably colourful” endeavor. In contrast, he characterized “Easter Lily” as emerging from “a more intimate place,” with its songs exploring themes of “friendship, faith, endurance, and renewal.”
These two EPs represent U2’s first collections of newly written songs since 2017. Accompanying the “Easter Lily” release is a digital e-zine edition of U2’s long-standing fanzine, Propaganda.
Within this e-zine, guitarist The Edge offered further insight into the EP’s thematic shift. He explained that if “Days of Ash” addressed “a world in trauma,” then “Easter Lily” focuses on identifying the “strength to walk through this world.”
Stuart Clark, deputy editor of Hot Press, shared his positive reception of the EP with BBC News NI. “I really like it,” he stated, “I think with the other six songs [released in February] you feel like the fire is in the belly.” Clark reflected on the band’s history, noting that while their tours, like the Joshua Tree tour, might have suggested a potential retreat into their back catalogue, U2 has consistently prioritized new material and upcoming songs throughout their career.
Clark highlighted the deeply personal nature of the songs and observed a persistent religious undertone in their work. He appreciated the EP’s fresh sound, which still incorporates the characteristic “80s guitar jangle.” He further commented that the band seems comfortable acknowledging their age without attempting to recapture their youth, subtly referencing classic U2 elements while lyrically addressing their current life stage.
Clark also noted the band’s apparent productivity and sense of liberation. He suggested that their previous cycle of planning album releases, extensive touring, and repetition might have been altered. The return of Larry Mullen Jr., described as being “in fearsome form,” was deemed particularly significant.
“It’s always been the four,” Clark emphasized, referring to the consistent lineup. “Rarely have bands been so deeply rooted in friendship.” He speculated on the band’s future, suggesting that any disruption to Mullen Jr.’s ability to continue playing might have impacted their present enthusiasm.
The band’s success in preventing leaks prior to these EP releases was also noted as impressive. Clark remarked on their adeptness at maintaining secrecy in an industry under constant scrutiny and filled with readily available camera phones. He contrasted this with typical pre-release patterns, where fan sites and hints often precede new music, stating that U2 had skillfully kept these two collections of songs “under the radar.”
General reviews for “Easter Lily” have been largely favorable. The Irish Times described it as “an endearingly honest, questing record about friendship, faith, art, meaning and, appropriately for Easter, death and the possibility of rebirth.” Reviewer Patrick Freyne observed a shift towards a “more euphoric register as they’ve aged.”
Freyne contrasted the EP with its predecessor, “Days Of Ash,” which he characterized as delivering “news bulletins from the world’s multiple conflict zones – naming names, taking sides.” In contrast, “Easter Lily” is seen as a dispatch “from the internal frontline, testing whether ties of faith and friendship will suffice in these dark times.” The review concluded that with these two releases, U2 had effectively “bookended Lent with two very different collections.”
Formed in Dublin in 1976, U2 rose to prominence as one of the world’s leading rock bands, achieving global success with over 175 million albums sold. Their accolades include 22 Grammy Awards, and they have consistently topped music charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
The core members—Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), Adam Clayton), and Larry Mullen Jr.—have remained together for five decades. Their most recent album, “Songs of Surrender,” released in 2023, features re-recorded versions of their past songs. Before that, their 14th studio album, “Songs of Experience,” was released in 2017.
“Easter Lily” is currently available as a digital download and on all major streaming platforms.