Exit is one of the most unsettling and hypnotic tracks U2 ever committed to tape. It builds from near-silence into something genuinely menacing, making it a masterclass in tension and release for any player willing to sit inside the discomfort.

The song appears on The Joshua Tree, released in 1987 and produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. That production duo shaped the entire sonic world of the album, and Exit is perhaps where their influence is felt most intensely, with cavernous reverb and a sense of space that feels both vast and claustrophobic at once.

Musically, the track is built on repetition and gradual escalation. The groove locks in early and refuses to let go, with the rhythmic pulse driving forward almost mechanically before the arrangement opens up into something rawer and more forceful. The harmonic palette is narrow and deliberate, which is precisely what makes the mounting intensity so effective. Form matters here: the track earns its explosion through patience.

Any instrumentalist approaching this song should focus on restraint first. The early sections demand precision and control, not flash. Practice playing quietly and evenly, letting the repetition do the work. When the dynamic shift arrives, it should feel inevitable rather than sudden. Listening to the full arc of the track several times before attempting to play it is essential preparation.

• Artist: U2
• Album: The Joshua Tree
• Released: 1987
• Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois
• Feel: driving eighth-note pulse with a wide dynamic arc
• Central skill: controlling tension through dynamics and repetition