THE CRANBERRIES
BURY THE HATCHET
by Dee

By the end of their last Australian tour in 1996, The Cranberries were exhausted from being on the road and being famous. Ever since their 1993 debut album 'Everybody Else is Doing it, so Why Can't We?', the Cranberries had seldom been out of the spotlight.

However in the space of two years, during their break, The Cranberries changed as people. Dolores gave birth to a son, Taylor, grew her hair, got rid of her row of ear studs and pierced her navel; bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler wed their long-time girlfriends.

The latest album 'Bury the Hatchet', recorded in Mivral in France and then in London, is clearly made by a band that has rediscovered the joy of music. Their first single 'Promises', already very popular here in Australia, showed The Cranberries more willing to take risks this time.

This fourth album from The Cranberries promises to be as successful internationally, if not more so, than their previous three albums that sold over 28 million copies worldwide. It not only wallows in melancholy, but also magnifies and amplifies it. Boasting an enchanting assortment of tracks, 'Bury the Hatchet' maintains the awe-inspiring melodies and trademark political messages that have brought the band to international stardom. Some excellent tracks include 'Animal Instincts', 'You and Me' and 'Saving Grace'. Dolores's love ballads contain heart-warming lines such as 'I can't wait to see your face' and 'No one's ever treated me the way you do'. It is difficult to decide which is more appealing to our ears - O'Riordan's unmistakeable, lilting Irish vocals or the harmonious strings that sweeten most of the album.

Then there is, of course, the special limited edition 'Bury the Hatchet' bonus live-track disc, comprising their four best-selling hit singles 'Dreams', 'Linger', 'Zombie' and their latest single 'Promises', as recorded from The Cranberries 1999 Oslo concert.

And finally, good news for Cranfans - The Cranberries will be touring around the country between September and November this year (1999), which makes for a double dose of musical ecstasy from one of the most influencial rock bands of the 90s.