Irish rock legends U2 have celebrated Good Friday by treating fans to a surprise release, dropping a brand-new six-track EP titled Easter Lily.
Arriving as a standalone project, the release follows closely on the heels of their politically charged Days Of Ash EP, which debuted on Ash Wednesday earlier this year. While the band continues to chip away at their highly anticipated 15th studio album, these interim collections are meant to exist as self-contained musical statements.
In stark contrast to the defiant tone of its predecessor, Easter Lily leans heavily into the contemplative spirit of the holiday weekend. The band describes the new music as originating from a deeply "personal, private place," diving into intimate themes of grief, camaraderie, and spiritual rebirth.
Leading the charge is the quintessential, stadium-ready anthem "Song For Hal." Characterized by the band as a lockdown lament, the track centers around the comforting mantra, "you're not alone." The song serves as a touching tribute to their late friend and collaborator Hal Willner, arriving near what would have been his 70th birthday.
The EP further unfolds with "In a Life," a sweeping, open-road ode to friendship, and the vulnerable "Scars," which delivers a poignant message of self-acceptance. On the latter, frontman Bono croons, > "All the tyrants that you've defeated, the only that's left is you."
Meanwhile, "Resurrection Song" delivers a massive, Las Vegas Sphere-appropriate soundscape designed to evoke the feeling of stepping into the unknown on a pilgrimage with a loved one.
Sonically, the project blossoms on "Easter Parade," a vibrant, synth-driven celebration of new beginnings anchored by The Edge's unmistakable, towering guitar riffs. The EP closes on a solemn but beautiful note with "COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?)." Channeling a hushed, Bon Iver-inspired energy, the spoken-word finale acts as a haunting lullaby dedicated to families navigating the horrors of war, complete with ethereal ambient soundscapes provided by iconic producer Brian Eno.