Released: 2020

Genres: Art Pop, Alternative Dance, Synthpop

The Musiquarium’s Petals for Armor Review Score: 7.5 out of 10

Despite Paramore finally reaching some semblance of inner-band harmony with the After Laughter era lineup of the band (every previous album has had a different line-up from the last), Hayley Williams still needed a break from her main act and from the constant touring. While Paramore was still active and on good terms with each other, a solo album would allow a chance for Williams to be more vulnerable, more experimental and more free, having no one to answer to but herself.

Originally released as three separate EPs with five songs each, Petals for Armor was eventually released as one whole album. Lead single and opener Simmer displays a much different sound from Hayley Williams than what we’ve ever come to expect from the already dynamic Paramore. Cinnamon sounds like something careless and fun that St. Vincent might have made around 2014. Sudden Desire has some hints of Bjork-like singing and electronica in its chorus.

One of Petals For Armor‘s greatest strengths is that it really doesn’t sound like a Paramore album at all, but is still very much Hayley Williams. There are virtually no traces of punk or emo, and even Paramore’s more recent new wave influences haven’t seeped into this album too much. Instead, the sound is very much its own thing, more along the lines of an R&B-influenced 80s art pop sound.

On Petals for Armor, Hayley Williams has proved that even without Paramore, she is still an artistic force to be reckoned with.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Hayley Williams on Discogs.

Back to the 2020 Album Guide or the Hayley Williams Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard