War became U2’s first UK number-one album.
Released on February 28, 1983, War entered the UK Albums Chart at number one. It was U2’s third studio album, following Boy and October, and its success established the Dublin band as a major force in British and Irish rock.
The album includes “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Year’s Day,” and “Two Hearts Beat as One.” Its politically charged material reflected the tension of early-1980s Europe, while the band’s increasingly forceful live performances helped build its audience.
War is sometimes mixed up with The Joshua Tree because the latter became U2’s first number-one album in the United States. The Joshua Tree also topped the UK chart, but War achieved the band’s first UK number-one position in 1983.