The debut album from Viola Beach – the British band killed in a car crash in February – looks set to reach number one in the album chart.

The indie four-piece – singer Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin – died with their manager Craig Tarry when their car plunged more than 80ft into a canal in Sweden, 18 miles from the capital Stockholm.

The cover of Viola Beach's debut album (Viola Beach/PA)The cover of Viola Beach’s debut album (Viola Beach/PA)

Their self-titled album, which is made up of nine songs including lead single Boys That Sing, is about 6,000 sales ahead of last week’s number one from ELO, All Over The World – The Very Best Of, the Official Charts Company said.

The families of the Warrington band have released the album to “celebrate” their lives.

In June, Coldplay paid tribute to Viola Beach at Glastonbury by performing Boys That Sing as part of their headline slot on the Pyramid Stage.

Coldplay paid tribute to the band at this year's Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA)Coldplay paid tribute to the band at this year’s Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA)

Music magazine NME has praised the record as an album “that will leave a smile on your face”.

The review said: “Viola Beach’s name will always be synonymous with tragedy, but at least now we have a document of who this band were – and what they might have achieved.”

Following ELO at number two, Chaleur Humaine by Christine and The Queens, is at number three, while DJ Khaled’s Major Key and Drake’s Views complete the top five.

Major Lazer, Justin Bieber and MO’s collaboration Cold Water looks set for the top of the singles chart.