The Cranberries have today shared the first single ‘All Over Now’ from their final album ‘In The End’.
The release coincides with the first anniversary of the sudden death of their lead singer, Dolores O’Riordan, who died on January 15 last year, aged 46.
Having already written and demoed eleven songs prior to O’Riordan’s death, guitarist and co-founder of The Cranberries Noel Hogan said O’Riordan was “energised” by the prospect of the new album in the months leading up to her death. With the support of her family, Hogan said the band wanted to honour their singer by completing the work she started.
“Dolores was so energised by the prospect of making this record and [to be] getting back out on the road to play the songs live,” Hogan tells NME.
“We knew this had to be one of the, if not the, best Cranberries album that we could possibly do. The worry was that we would destroy the legacy of the band by making an album that wasn’t up to standard. Once we had gone through all the demos that Dolores and I had worked on and decided that we had such a strong album, we knew it would be the right thing and the best way that we could honour Dolores.”
You can listen to the new song here:
Working once again with producer Stephen Street, who has worked on four of their previous albums, the band went back to the studio to work on the songs which were all in various stages of competition. Building the music around O’Riordan’s vocals, Hogan said it was a difficult time for the band.
“It was a bitter sweet time,” Hogan remembers. “The joy of recording new tracks is always exciting and one of the best parts of being in a band. At the end of every day when we’d laid down our parts, there was a sense of sadness knowing that Dolores wouldn’t be in that evening to work on that day’s track.”
Speaking about the release to ITV, Hogan confirmed that this will be the final album for The Cranberries, saying that it was “unthinkable” for them to carry on without O’Riordan. He also said the release of the album will give the band the “closure” they need following her sudden passing.
Hogan said: “I think we’re just excited for it to be out there and for people to hear it because we’ve lived with it for so long under secrecy. People will be really really impressed with the vocals, especially the lyrics, they’re really from Dolores’ heart.
“She left such a massive collection of songs, such huge iconic songs…For anybody to leave even one is a great thing but to have the collection you know, and it’s great to see that people have focused on her music after her death.”
O’Riordan’s mother, Eileen, has also spoken about her support of the band in their completion of the album. “I miss her awfully, specially today, as does the entire family,” she began. “That said, I can’t think of a more fitting way to commemorate the first anniversary of her passing and to celebrate her life than to announce to the world the release of her final album with the band.
“She was very excited about this new album and was really looking forward to its release. I have no doubt that she is happy now and would be delighted with today’s announcement.”
The Cranberries final album ‘In The End’ will be released on April 26 and the track listing for the album is below.
In The End – track listing
1. All Over Now
2. Lost
3. Wake Me When It’s Over
4. A Place I Know
5. Catch Me If You Can
6. Got It
7. Illusion
8. Crazy Heart
9. Summer Song
10. The Pressure
11. In The End