Successful mid-'90s rock act the Toadies [ tickets ] returns after a lengthy hiatus to lead this week's pack of new albums with its second full-length. Also entering the fray is the latest album from Lionel Richie [ tickets ], a special release from the Cranberries and the U.S. debut of Australia's Killing Heidi.

The Toadies, whose debut album “Rubberneck” was released nearly 7 years ago, return with their sophomore release “Hell Below/Stars Above” (Interscope) this week. The album’s first single, “Push the Hand,” recently hit radio stations.

Released in August of 1994, “Rubberneck” featured the group’s breakthrough hit “Possum Kingdom,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart in November 1995. The album itself was certified platinum in December 1996.

To mark the release of its new disc, the Texas-based band kicked off a club tour in its home state last week, according to its official website. The outing has dates scheduled through April 7, and additional dates outside of Texas are expected soon.

Popular ‘70s-and-‘80s crooner Lionel Richie delivers “Renaissance” (Island) this week, the follow-up to 1998’s “Time.” “Angel,” the first single from the new album, was recently released to radio, and is at No. 21 on Radio & Records’ latest adult contemporary national airplay chart.

Richie’s publicity blitz behind “Renaissance” includes a Tuesday (3/20) appearance on the cable shopping network QVC, where he is scheduled to both perform and help sell copies of the new album on air. On Wednesday (3/21), the singer-songwriter is scheduled to perform on “Good Morning America,” and next Monday (3/26), he will be the featured musical guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Richie is scheduled to begin a European tour in late April, and dates are scheduled through the end of May. No U.S. tour dates have been announced yet.

Previously available in the U.S. exclusively as an import, the Cranberries’ 2000 album “Bury the Hatchet--The Complete Sessions” (Island) hits the states this week. The 2-CD set includes the group’s original 1999 album “Bury the Hatchet” and a second disc comprising five songs recorded during the “Bury the Hatchet” sessions, as well as seven live tracks.

According to the Cranberries’ official website, the group will finish recording its next album with producer Stephen Street next month. The disc is expected to hit stores in October.

Australian quartet Killing Heidi--fronted by 17-year-old Ella Hooper and featuring her brother Jesse (guitar)--drops its stateside debut this week, “Reflector” (3:33/Universal Records). The album debuted at No. 1 following its release in the band’s native country one year ago.

“Reflector” has been certified quadruple-platinum in Australia, and recently garnered the group four major awards--Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album and Best New Artist (Album)--at the 14th Annual SCAPE ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) Awards, the Aussie equivalent of the Grammys, according to the group’s official website.

Other new releases:

112 - “Part III” (Bad Boy/Arista)
Yolanda Adams - “The Experience” (Elektra)
Alpha - “The Impossible Thrill” (Melankolic)
Tiffany Anders - “Happy Cry Funny Gift” (Up)
The Ashley Stove - “All Summer Long” (Merge)
Jon B. - “Pleasures U Like” (Epic)
The Beatnuts - “Take It or Squeeze It” (Loud)
Black Box Recorder - “The Facts of Life” (Jet Set)
The Black Halos - “The Violent Years” (Sub Pop)
Delinquent Habits - “Merry Go Round” (Ark 21)
Endo - “Evolve” (Columbia)
DJ Mark Farina - “Mushroom Jazz Vol. 3” (Om)
Howe Gelb - “Confluence” (Thrill Jockey)
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards - “Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards” (Hellcat)
Levert - “The Best of Levert” (Rhino)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - “Blow in the Wind” (Fat Wreck Chords)
Old 97's - “Satellite Rides” (Elektra)
The Prayer Boat - “Polichinelle” (Atlantic)
Powderfinger - “Odyssey Number Five” (Universal)
The Sadies - “Tremendous Efforts” (Bloodshot)
Saint Etienne - “Interlude” (Sub Pop)
Sepultura - “Nation” (Roadrunner)
The Sheila Divine - “Where Have My Countrymen Gone” (Co-op Pop)
Silent Poets - “To Come” (Atlantic)
Skrape - “New Killer America” (RCA)
Soundtrack - “The Brothers” (Warner Bros.)
Trick Daddy - “Thugs R Us” (Atlantic)
Unloco - “Healing” (Maverick)
Redd Volkaert - “No Stranger to a Tele” (Hightone)