Metal band Bad Wolves releases their own version of Cranberries' hit song "Zombie," a few days after the death of the latter's lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
As previously reported, the 46-year-old singer was in London to join the band's recording of the "Zombie" cover when she was found unconscious and later pronounced dead at a hotel in Park Lane.
Talking to Rolling Stone, the heavy metal band -- composed of former members of DevilDriver, In This Moment, and God Forbid -- said their original cover of the 1994 classic was recorded months ago. One of O'Riordan's friends, Dan Waite, works at the band's label and thought to send it to the singer for opinion.
It turned out to be a huge success with O'Riordan as well. She liked it so much she offered to sing it with them. "It made my year just to have that kind of validation," shared Bad Wolves frontman Tommy Vext.
Bad Wolves' rendition of the song features the same moody feel of the original song, as its crooning and howling, but with a few subtle changes in lyrics, to make the song more current.
"Zombie" was originally recorded as Cranberries' response to a 1993 Irish Republican Army attack that killed two children.
Vext explained that the Irish band's lyrics still reflect the same issues in 2018, such as social unrest and political turmoil. "The reasons might change but there's still collateral damage with people's struggle for power and freedom," he added.
O'Riordan died before she even met the metal band, or tell them her own plans about the cover.
Still, Bad Wolves decided to release the single as a tribute to O'Riordan and her music. "It almost feels like we had to do it. It feels like we're compelled to have her work continue through us," said Vext.
All proceeds from the song will go to her children.
The Cranberries' sudden death remains a mystery. While coroners have earlier declared there was nothing suspicious about it, they also performed a postmortem investigation, with results expected to come out in April.
A private Requiem Mass will be held for O'Riordan at her hometown in Limerick on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
