U2 just about have a new album in the can, but have no plans to release it.
Bono tells The New York Times, "We have almost finished this album called Songs of Ascent, which we're not putting out.
"We're going to put out a rock 'n' roll album... a noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album" first. "So we're not putting this out, but I'm telling you it's awesome."
Among the songs we'll have to wait to hear are "The Bard's Last Breath" and "Smile," which is described as a "very cool, Beatle-y thing."
Bono also said he and The Edge are writing "at a very high level," and that the new songs are "so strong that it deserved time to make sure people heard about them as well as heard them...
"I would not be surprised if U2 makes the best album of its life in the next years. Not because the world needs it, but because the band might. That's a great reason to go into the studio."
U2's last album was 2017's Songs of Experience.
Bono will publish his memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, on November 1st.