Hayley Willams Did Not Come To Play on Hard-hitting Solo Album, ‘Petals for Armor’ - Review.

“Rage is a quiet thing”, Says Hayley Williams in ‘Simmer’, the first single off her debut solo album ‘Petals for Armor’. The Paramore frontwoman and iconic symbol of early emo pop-punk has done what she swore she would never do, release music on her own. 

Whilst confirming the future of Paramore still looks bright and the band is still very much together, Williams has created an album which celebrates woman hood whilst addressing the battle of with her mental health after a difficult relationship and painful divorce with New Found Glory guitarist, Chad Gilbert. 

The album has been released in three parts, each addressing what seems to be a different stage in the healing process, with the first part being rage and depression, the second exploring healing and self-love and the final third part addressing new love and new beginnings. 

The album is quietly fierce, showcasing vulnerable emotions of hurt and hidden aggression in a way which is delicate and graceful. Williams has been known for years for her staple belt and extreme vocal range which accompanies heavy guitars and head banging perfectly, yet we now see her exploring a different side to her vocal abilities, resembling the likes of Björk and Phoebe Bridgers. ‘Simmer’ begins with an intro of soft scat singing and breathy tones, and then brings us whining cries and vocal slides that resemble trying to speak when on the verge of crying. 

Whilst Williams’ vocals seem so delicate on most tracks, her raspy elongated belt sees a return on ‘Pure Love’ as well as a punchy, short belt on ‘Sudden Desire’. The album almost ties together elements of the old, angsty Paramore with the sounds of their 2017 album ‘After Laughter’ which experimented with funk and indie pop which feels so present in her funky, playful tracks such as ‘Cinnamon’ and ‘Sugar on the Rim’. The instrumentation varies from cinematic strings to clunky bass and synth on both keys and guitar. With her producer being fellow Paramore band member, Taylor York, it’s easy to see why this style from their last album has been implemented and developed into a more mature, experimental sound with this solo project.

‘Dead Horse’ is emerging as the most brutally honest track, the music video almost appears as Williams mocking her past self, wearing coloured wigs to represent her past vivacious hair colours she showcased during different eras of her life and band, with clear links to past Paramore music videos. A powerful visual of Williams holding her own limp body sings to us, even various shots of her destroying the iconic pair of platform Dr. Marten boots she wore on her wedding day. The song plays around with taunting chants of ‘ya ya ya ya’ and lyrics that show Williams’ honest look into herself and her past actions such as “I got what I deserve, I was the other woman first.” We can only applaud the admittance to her own mistakes during the marriage which inspired this album instead of addressing one half it, something many artists would not do. 

The album explores a floral theme, celebrating femininity, with the song ‘Roses/Violet/Lotus/Iris’ addressing how many women are compared and compare themselves to other women, when in fact women all grow and change at their own pace, and should celebrate their own individuality whilst supporting each other to bloom. After controversy surrounding her lyrics ‘once a whore you’re nothing more’ on Paramore’s most iconic hit ‘Misery Business’, Williams has since been much more open about being a feminist and the band have since removed this song from their concert set list. This album celebrates unity amongst women and showcases the growth of realising she is not in competition with other women.

The albums cover shows Williams using the three blacked-out square tattoos on her fingers which were once the initials of her ex-husband as album art, with the squares spiralling up onto her face and around her eye, it is the epitome of turning a broken heart into art.

‘Petals for Armor’ is to the indie pop scene, what Beyoncé's ‘Lemonade’ was for R&B; a powerful, poignant and daringly honest album that shows bitter and raw emotion with fiery female confidence in a creative and well-crafted way. The album is accompanied by symbolic visuals and music videos which show the birth of a new Hayley Williams, one that knows her worth even on bad days, and will continue to have the strength to love despite the fear of failing.