U2 – War Review

An album which nearly broke the band soon became a turning point for U2. Where The Edge nearly departed the group during the making of War, it was this direction from Bono and the group that steadied them after October. Their preceding album is by no means bad work, but it is a stretch away from the post-punk thrills of their debut or the pop-oriented efforts of their heyday. War is a staggering moment for the group, one borne of frustration and internal struggle. Opening song Sunday Bloody Sunday nearly destroyed the group. Discomfort from some members in dealing with political premise feels a smidge ironic now, given Bono is charitable figure first, and frontman second. But at the time, it was a bold statement for the band. It has paid off, one which shared the conviction and politically aware tone of U2.  

Sunday Bloody Sunday is a sensational song. A track which speaks of The Troubles, which uses the beat of percussion as a clear route through for comments on suffrage and longer-term impact. It is what keeps War raging on, what makes follow-up song, Seconds, feel like a cool continuation of this inspired and clear stance. This is U2 at their very best. Those tones of political strife and commentaries on the world around them supersede the romantic suggestions of New Year’s Day. There may be a want and desire there, to be with a loved one once more, but what separates them is the call to arms Bono is moved by. Blood red skies, harsh instrumentals which pack a post-punk punch too, these are the moments where U2 makes a name for themselves not as pop-ready powerhouses but as a band with an intensity, their fingers on the pulse of society. The Unforgettable Fire would make good on this, too.  

Abandonment and desperation on Like a Song is filled with the punk spirit heard on debut album, Boy. The Edge is in phenomenal form here; Bono strikes out at those who want U2 to align themselves one way or another. Here is a voice of the lost generation, and with their modern releases, it is easy to lose track of how powerful a voice U2 was. Bono has never sounded better than he does on Drowning Man. An outstanding moment in an album filled with brilliant songs. Intense instrumentals, most of it built on a foundation of percussion brilliance from Larry Mullen Jr, is the best part of War. There is a fearlessness in both the groovy thrills and the pertinent political message at hand.  

A blurring of two truths, long-standing momentum U2 has been careful to kindle over the years. This is where the band makes a confident step towards their future but nearly loses a member along the way. They did not, and the rest is history. Take note of the little instrumental flickers, the saxophone on Red Light is masterful, the momentum which it gives way to on Surrender, is divine. War is a call of the times. U2 digs deep into these tensions, understanding not just the physical horror but the mental divide, the emotional consequences of carnage. Here is where the band matures, where they find themselves as important statesmen for their country and the post-punk music of the 1980s. War has purpose and perspective perfectly balanced. An album which rivals their supposed best works from later in the decade, that is for certain.