NEGATIVE reaction from critics has caused Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries, to claim that response to the band's new album has been "thrilling and overwhelming".
In the first week of release, To The Faithful Departed has gone straight to No 1 in Australia, Sweden, Italy and France, No 2 in Ireland, Britain, Germany and Finland, and No 4 in the US.
The Limerick band, on tour in the Far East, said the album was selling more quickly than their previous album, No Need To Argue, did in its first few weeks. "Vindicated or what?" asked Ms O'Riordan.
Sales for the album already stand at 2.5 million copies.