U2 - Carnaval De Luz

U2 Opens the Carnival After Nine Years

Carnaval de Luz is U2's first full-length album of new material in nine years. The 12-song record circles spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance while the band answers darker themes with louder drums, brighter melodies and a deliberately unruly sense of spectacle.

Surf Punk, Brian Eno and Loud Guitars

"Silencio" introduces the album with two minutes and 35 seconds of early surf-punk energy. Brian Eno contributes writing and synthesizer work to three songs, Martin Garrix co-writes "Glorify," and longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee produces the record. Ryan Tedder adds production to the new single.

Dolly Parton's Last Recorded Vocal

The closing track, "Torn," pairs Bono with Dolly Parton in a country song about broken family ties. Parton co-wrote it with U2 and Johnny McDaid, while Daniel Lanois supplies pedal steel guitar. It is described as her final recorded vocal performance, giving the album's last song an unexpected emotional weight.

Twenty-Four Songs in an Anniversary Year

Carnaval de Luz follows the surprise EPs Days of Ash and Easter Lily, with no songs repeated between them. By the album's arrival, U2 will have released 24 tracks during its 50th-anniversary year, turning a long album gap into a sudden burst of new music.