'There's only one reason for U2 to put an album out right now,' Bono tells The Sun. 'It has to be a monster, a dragon, and this is.'

Speaking at the Dublin unveiling of his paintings for Peter and the Wolf, Bono said that the band's work on the new album is 'nearly finished.'

'We're nearly finished -- we're in the home straight. There's only one reason for U2 to put an album out right now -- it has to be a monster, a dragon, and this is.
'It's filled with big tunes and it's driven by a guitar player who is sick of the sight of me shaking hands with dodgy politicians. The anger is unbelievable.'

Earlier in the summer, he described the new recording as evidence that the band are 'getting closer to making the music we have always wanted to make.'

The Edge has described the band's latest music as 'very Raw, Rock 'n' Roll'.

And Edge, explains Bono, is the driving force in the studio at present.
'The Edge is the most gifted guitar player of his generation -- that's obvious. He's driving it and he's going, 'This is enough, if I see one more photo of you with a dodgy politician I'm going to throw up.'

In an extensive interview with Dominic Mohan, Bono also talks about the death of his father two years ago, his ongoing campaigning work on behalf of the poorest countries and his enjoyment at being able to return to painting. "I used to paint long before I dreamed of putting on wraparound shades and selling tunes for U2."