Paramore reawakens Gen Z’s love for alternative indie rock while also satisfying long-time fans with their new album, “This is Why.” The band ended its hiatus by beginning a new chapter with the album’s release on Feb. 10, six years after their last studio album. The 10-track record showcases a new vulnerable and chaotic side to the band. 

The album starts off with the titular song “This Is Why,” which features spunky electric guitar riffs and drum beats followed by icon Hayley Williams’ soft vocals that effortlessly transition into a stronger distinct volume. The lead vocalist delivers a message of tirelessly facing criticism and the world’s selfishness with lyrics such as, “If you have an opinion maybe you should shove it / This is why I don’t leave the house.” Though presented as the first track, Paramore actually wrote this song last, making listeners begin their journey with an empowering “no-BS” attitude that band members may have felt while finishing their project.

Powerful aspects of the album include recognizable electric guitar chords and punchy drum  pulses that create a classic pop-rock sound. Though listeners may grow tired of that same constant melody, Paramore experiments with various instruments, from fluttery flutes and pianos to clarinets and sweet chimes. 

Paramore’s loud and explosive demand to be heard manifests in songs like “The News” and “C’est Comme Ca,” which show a recent buildup of frustration with bratty, edgy vocals. Still,  singer-songwriter Williams slows listeners down with brief psychedelic trances and lyrics like, “Exploitative, performative / Informative, and we don’t know the half of it / Historical, and all along, we called it normal.”

Along with chaotic and fun songs, Paramore also shows a darker side of its coin by flipping listeners onto sweet and melancholic tunes such as “Liar” and closer “Thick Skull.” Sonically, Williams’ angelic voice induces a wistful lust for hope into listeners’ minds with lyrics such as, “All the ways I’d keep you safe from me / Oh, my love, I lied to you / Love is not an easy thing to admit but I’m not ashamed.”

Sensual, teasing tones and lyrics complete Paramore’s sound with songs such as “Big Man, Little Dignity,” which shows listeners the range of the band’s songwriting. Ethereal instrumentals guide listeners through the song as if wandering through a punk’s dream forest surrounded by William’s sardonic voice. “No offense,” but this might be the album’s best track if listeners seek to dance to the satisfying criticisms of men in today’s society.

Paramore successfully paints its six-year journey, especially the ups and downs of the anxiety-inducing pandemic, social movements and humanity in general. “This Is Why” shoots Paramore back into the spotlight with raw and scream-worthy songs. 

4 stray animals out of 5