Paramore talk upcoming new album This Is Why, inspired by British bands Bloc Party and Wet Leg

Paramore have begun to reveal the details of their forthcoming new album, This Is Why.

The first album by the pop-punk pioneers since 2017's New Wave-inspired After Laughter, This Is Why has been preceded by its title track; a spiky lament about social commentary and the nature of online criticism, which sounds a lot like a (very good) Talking Heads song.

Speaking to The Guardian, Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro confirm that the album's sonics will be a step-away from the heavy synths of After Laughter, instead finding new life in a soundtrack of 00s indie landfill. 

As such, the album carries heavy influences from the British indie-rock outfit Bloc Party, as well as finding modern-day inspiration through the sound of breakthrough darlings Wet Leg.

MORE: Paramore's Official Charts history in full

"It felt so urgent," Williams says of the sound. "Important, a little bit cocky. Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Rapture, Glassjaw – those are characters, people that were larger-than-life indie superstars."

Farro also said that during studio sessions for This Is Why whenever the band started questioning if the songs were perhaps going too OTT, they had a clear motive: "Give 'em the goods."

And you can't argue with that, can you?

Paramore took a break from recording as a band following the release of 2017's alt-pop inspired After Laughter, which became their third UK Top 10 album, peaking at Number 4.

Hayley Williams then branched off to start her long-awaited solo career, releasing two connected albums; Petals For Armor (which also peaked at Number 4 on the Official Albums Chart in 2020) and sister-record Flowers For Vases/Descansos. 

But while Paramore haven't released music in half a decade, their influence in music hasn't been forgotten; in fact, he band have been named as direct inspiration for the current 'emo' revival in rock music.

Hayley was even given a retrospective co-writer credit on Olivia Rodrigo's Number 1 single Good 4 U, which was often compared to Paramore's breakthrough single, Misery Business.

In total, Paramore have two UK Number 1 albums - 2009's Brand New Eyes and 2013's self-titled third album. Read a countdown of Hayley Williams and Paramore's Top 10 biggest songs on the UK's Official Charts here.

This Is Why (the single) is out now via Atlantic. The album of the same name follows next year.

Article Image: Zachary Gray