Paramore, the Nashville-based rock band fronted by Hayley Williamsreleased their first album in six years on Feb. 10 called, “This Is Why.” The band’s last album, “After Laughter,” was thought to be their last, especially with Williams’ solo projects “Petals for Armour” in 2020 and “FLOWERS FOR VASES / descansos” in 2021. Those albums were very different from Paramore’s more hardcore sounds, although the band can be considered pop-punk, alternative or electronic pop depending on the album. 

Because of this genre variation, fans were curious which way “This Is Why” would sway. The title track was released in late September, followed by the other two singles, “The News” and “C’est Comme Ça.” All three sound the most like the band’s self-titled album from 2013, which could be described as pop or alternative rock. Despite the genre change from Paramore’s pop punk roots, their emo aggression is never lost on any of their albums, especially in “This Is Why.”

One of my favorite songs on this album is “The News.” In this song, Williams sings about the experience of watching a war taking place on the opposite side of the world. She sings about how, while she’s safe inside her house, people are dying by the hundreds and she feels like there is nothing she can do about it. There is a lot of emotion in this song, with a chorus where Williams sings, “Every second our collective heart breaks, all together every single head shakes, shut your eyes but it won’t go away, turn off the news.” The song is most likely Williams’ response to the Russia-Ukraine war that has occurred for the past year. Williams has written many songs about her inner emotional turmoil in the past, so the authenticity of “The News” is not out of the blue. What makes her music so influential is the way that Williams harnesses this raw emotion and combines it with beautiful vocals and a funky, stuck-in-your-head melody to create a true masterpiece like “The News.”

“Thick Skull” was another song that really stuck out to me, lyrically, musically and vocally. In an interview, Williams said that the song was a way to leave behind all of the negativity of the past era of Paramore, as the contract Williams signed when she was 14 years old is coming to an end. She said that she wanted to use the last song on the album to face the statements made about the band (such as the idea that the band was manufactured) and leave her fears in the past with her ending contract. Towards the end of “Thick Skull,” Williams’ vocals are emotional and moving, with a similar power to that of Paramore’s “All I Wanted” off of their 2009 album, “Brand New Eyes.”

In true Paramore fashion, “This Is Why” has one slower, more mellow song, “Liar.” However, “Liar” is less like Paramore’s past soft songs like “26” and “Tell Me How” from “After Laughter,” and more similar sounding to Williams’ independent work. I found it very interesting that in this song and others on the album, Williams combined her new, individual sound with Paramore’s alternative spunk. 

Hayley Williams has always had incredibly distinct and smooth vocals, and they are not lost in this album. This is especially accentuated in songs like “You First,” “Figure 8,” “Crave” and “Thick Skull.” Her ability to transition from high to low so seamlessly and effortlessly in the same way she was able to nearly 20 years ago is astonishing. 

Overall, as an avid Paramore fan, the band’s return did not disappoint. Past Paramore fans, as well as fans of alternative rock, will enjoy “This Is Why.”

“This Is Why:” ★★★★★