'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' has gone straight to the top of the US chart, the fifth time U2 have been at No.1 simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic.

And the album is now hugging the top spot in twenty one other countries.

Here's the list: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.

U2's 11th studio album is the fifth time they have managed the feat of topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously - they previously achieved this with The Joshua Tree, Rattle & Hum, Zooropa and Pop.

'It gives me enormous pleasure to be in business with the biggest and best rock'n'roll band in the world.' said Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK. 'U2 have scaled many heights in their career, but it looks like they're going to surpass them with this album.'

More chart news as it comes in. (Incidentally, if you are a Japanese reader,
HTDAAB is at No. 2 in your charts. Enough said!)