Ireland leads the way with new U2 album

The single – the first from the band's hugely anticipated No Line On The Horizon album – has already been greeted with widespread critical acclaim, significantly raising expectations for what is destined to be one of the year's big records. Originally titled 'Sexy Boots' the track is a thoroughly contemporary, intense electro grunge exercise, with Adam Clayton's powerful bass to the fore, which mixes hip hop influences with shades of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Beatles.

"We came up with 'Sexy Boots', and everyone got very excited by the idea and we pursued it, but in the end we just thought it was a bit limiting, and so we took it in another direction. That's the way it often happens with U2," Edge told Hot Press. Edge also waxed lyrical about the video for the single, made by French director Alex Courtes, who was also responsible for the video for 'City Of Blinding Lights'. "It's based around the idea that men have fucked things up so badly, politically, economically and socially that it's really time we handed things over to women. We had our doubts when we saw a rough cut – but the finished video is brilliant. He's really nailed it."

Officially due for release as a digital download on February 15, the track was made available on iTunes on the same day as Dave Fanning gave it its worldwide premiere on the Colm and Jim Jim Show on 2fm.

"'Get On Your Boots' is a great opening salvo from what is a brilliant album," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes commented. "No Line On The Horizon is a huge record, full of big songs, powerful riffs and superb musicianship. It's more musically diverse that any U2 album since Rattle And Hum, mixing hard rock, psychedelia, pop, electronica, dance, folk, country, spiritual music and orchestral shadings in what is a fantastically heady brew. It will certainly challenge U2 fans, but my guess is that they'll ultimately be inspired. It's going to be a massive record. I can't wait to hear the songs live."

The single has also won the approval of radio in the UK, where it is currently at No.6 on the airplay charts. No Line On The Horizon is released on February 27 in Ireland and March 3 in the US.