Cranberries to release two records made before singer's sudden death

Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan has died aged 46. Photo / AP

The Cranberries will release the new album they were recording with singer Dolores O'Riordan before her sudden death in January.

Her bandmates confirmed the Linger singer had completed the vocal tracks on the album which they expect to complete by early next year.

The distinctive vocals of the acclaimed Irish artist will also be celebrated on a 25th anniversary reissue of the band's debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We.

Her bandmates Noel and Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler updated fans on their plans for The Cranberries records in the wake of O'Riordan's death.

They revealed they were well into recording for a special edition of the debut record which turns 25 this month.

"We can confirm that since last summer the band had been working with Universal Music on the creation of a very special 25th anniversary edition of the album, a newly remastered version with previously unreleased material of ours as well as other bonus material from the era of our debut album," they posted.

"We had planned to release this special edition this month to coincide with the 25th anniversary. However, given Dolores' passing in January we put the entire project on hold."

The three band members recently decided to revisit the anniversary edition and "finish what we started. We thought about it and decided that as this is something that we started as a band, with Dolores, we should push ahead and finish it," they wrote.

"So that's the plan, to finish the project and get the special 25th anniversary edition album out later this year."

The musicians also confirmed their plans for the new songs they had been tinkering with in the studio.

O'Riordan had enjoyed a productive year and due to record vocals for a cover version of their most famous song Zombie by Bad Wolves. She was found dead in her London hotel room on the morning the studio session had been booked.

"We will also be completing the recording of a new studio album as previously announced, which we also started last year and for which Dolores had already recorded the vocals," The Cranberries' statement said.

"All going well we hope to have this new album finished and out early next year.

"We will keep you all up to date as things progress."

While police have stated O'Riordan's death was not suspicious, the coroner's report detailing the cause is not expected to be released until April.