U2’s legendary guitarist The Edge has opened up about the band’s progress on their next album, promising an experimental approach to their sound. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he revealed that while guitars will take center stage, fans shouldn’t expect a typical rock album.
“I guess we’re at that great honeymoon period of a lot of experimentation,” he shared. “I think the guitar will be a big part of the next record, but I don’t think it’s going to be a heavy rock album. I think it’s going to be a very different kind of use of the guitar, not a straight-up rock thing.”
This perspective slightly contrasts with Bono’s 2023 description of the project as an “unreasonable guitar record” brimming with “big choruses.” However, the two comments together suggest a mix of traditional U2 energy with fresh sonic directions.
Drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s recovery from surgery has been a key factor in the band’s timeline. After addressing years of drumming-related injuries, Mullen stepped back from live performances, including U2’s groundbreaking Las Vegas Sphere residency.
Now, according to The Edge, progress is picking up: “He’s in great form. It’s lovely to spend time with him in the studio in a creative environment.”
In other news, U2 is diving into their archives with the upcoming How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb, a companion album to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Set for release on November 22, it features unreleased tracks like ‘Happiness’, recorded during the original sessions, as well as previously shared gems like ‘Country Mile’.
Photo: Olaf Heine
