Paramore Release First Single from Upcoming Album

The gap between Paramore’s Brand New Eyes in 2009 and their upcoming, self-titled release set for April 2013 has been lengthy, uncertain, and fraught with tension. As many already know, two of the band’s members, Josh and Zac Farro, called it quits in 2010, claiming efforts were focused primarily on singer Hayley Williams and ignored the rest of the band’s input. Songwriting and recording, it seemed, started and took off through 2012, and as of the end of December, the band announced the title of their fourth studio release and its release date.

Because Paramore, scheduled to drop on April 9, is essentially a rebirth for the group known for a pop-rock sound, they’re reinventing themselves as a trio. Their latest single, “Now,” which was released on January 22, reflects this harder, if somewhat darker, approach. Yet, the stronger guitars don’t dwarf Williams’ distinct voice, and in a sense, the aptly-titled “Now” represents a more mature sound.

In announcing their upcoming album in December, the group described the process, stating: “The whole making of this album was a rediscovering of ourselves as a band and as friends.”

Expected to be the first single, “Now,” the band said, is: “perfect […] to start this journey […] To show people that you can lose battles but come back and win full on wars.”

If you have yet to hear “Now,” listen to it below: