Twenty years after the release of her culturally-transformative debut solo album, "The Lion and The Cobra," the uncompromising musical artist Sinead O'Connor is releasing Theology, a new double-CD collection of vital emotionally-charged songs, on Tuesday, June 26.

Theology premieres eight new songs written, or cowritten, by Sinead O'Connor: "Something Beautiful," "Out of the Depths," "33," "Dark I Am Yet Lovely," "If You Had A Vineyard," "The Glory of Jah," "Watcher of Men," and "Whomsoever Dwells" as well as three thematically-appropriate covers: Curtis Mayfield's soul-searching "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue," a ferocious interpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "I Don't Know How To Love" (from "Jesus Christ Superstar"), and the traditional reggae spiritual "Rivers of Babylon" with new lyrics written by Sinead.

"Theology is an attempt to create a place of peace in a time of war," said Sinead. "It is my own personal response to what has taken place and is affecting everyone around the world since and including September 11, 2001. I simply wanted to make a beautiful thing, out of something beautiful, which inspires me."

Each disc of Theology presents Sinead's new songs in different forms. The minimalist acoustic "Dublin Sessions" disc was produced by traditional Irish musician Steve Cooney (In Tua Nua, The Chieftains, Mary Black), who, along with Sinead, plays guitar on the stripped-down recordings. The "Dublin Sessions" were co-produced by Sinead O'Connor & Graham Bolger and feature a "hidden track": Sinead's haunting rendition of "Hosanna Filio David."

The second disc of Theology, dubbed the "London Sessions," showcases the songs in electrifying full band arrangements produced by Ron Tom. Instrumentation on the "London Sessions" includes drums, bass, guitar, piano, harp, violins, celli, French horn, flute, backing vocals, percussion and programming. Guest artists include reggae bass legend Robbie Shakespeare.

Both icon and iconoclast, Sinead O'Connor has been making music, rejecting stereotypes and defying expectations for more than a quarter century. At the age of 14, she wrote and recorded the debut single for the Dublin-based Irish band In Tua Nua, then left the band because she was too young to tour. In 1987, she wrote, recorded and released "The Lion and The Cobra," which Rolling Stone called "easily one of the most distinctive debut albums of the year," and charted with her first alternative hits "Mandinka," "Troy," and "I Want Your (Hands On Me)."

In 1990, her sophomore album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 while her Prince-penned single, "Nothing Compares 2 U," reached #1 on the Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance. She would later withdraw her name from Grammy consideration despite multiple nominations. Her groundbreaking video for "Nothing Compares 2 U," featuring Sinead's unforgettable performance in single-shot close-up, took home the Best Video trophy at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, marking the first time a woman had won the Best Video category.

Her clean-shaven head, ferocity of intelligence and intent, dignified persona, and penetrating aesthetic acuity established a new template for women in popular culture. She obliterated objectification and demanded to be taken seriously as an artist.

While her third album, 1992's "Am I Not Your Girl?," presaged the current resurgence of torch songs and standards by nearly a decade, a series of well-documented controversies led to her withdrawal from the music business while continuing to refine her art and pursue her own spiritual path.

In 2002, Sinead released "Sean Nos Nua," a vital reinterpretation of familiar Irish traditional material, which was warmly welcomed by critics and fans alike, and once again illustrated her ability to reinvent herself irrespective of prevailing fads and notions. She followed up in 2003 with "She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty," a well-selected compendium of B-sides, rarities and covers coupled with a riveting live performance recorded at Dublin's Vicar Street.

Exploring spirituality as interpreted by Jah Rastafari, Sinead decamped to Jamaica in 2005 to record "Throw Down Your Arms," a collection of conscious reggae classics, recorded under the tutelage of Sly & Robbie with some of JA's finest musicians.

With her new album, Theology, Sinead O'Connor is once again offering the gift and beauty of her music with humility and candor. The album will be released by Koch Records on Sinead’s own label imprint, "That’s Why There’s Chocolate and Vanilla.