After a four year break, punk rock powerhouse Paramore is making their much anticipated return with the release of their fourth album, “Paramore.”

Punk fanatics will surely be ecstatic over the new album that displays the fresh new faces of the band.

Paramore burst onto the scene as a young punk rock band in 2005 with the release of the album, “All We Know is Falling.” They proved to have massive potential and, with the release of “Riot!” in 2007, earned their spot amongst other great punk bands.

Their third album, “Brand New Eyes” released in 2009, was yet again a chart-topper, garnering a loyal Paramore fanbase. The last few years have been a whirlwind of change for the band because of the departure of brothers Zac (bassist) and Josh Farro (guitarist). The band now consists of guitarist Taylor York, a member since 2009, bassist Jeremy Davis, a member since 2005, and lead singer Hayley Williams, also a member since 2005.

With the release of “Paramore,” on April 9, Paramore fans can be sure to hear a much evolved band.

When released eight years ago, “All We Know is Falling” was the epitome of an ultimate punk rock album, heavy on guitar riffs and the angry wailing of Williams. “Riot!” built on the hype of its predecessor by staying with the same general sound as “All We Know is Falling.”

“Brand New Eyes” marked the beginning of a more adventurous Paramore. Williams’ powerhouse vocals were highlighted throughout the album, unlike the previous two albums.

“Paramore” is a slight departure from any of the previous albums and a bit of a disappointment. Songs such as “Holiday,” “I’m Not Angry Anymore” and “Moving On” consist of Williams’ voice and a ukulele. These songs are upbeat and happy, so I enjoyed them, but I could see where fans would be disappointed with this different side of Paramore because it’s so far from their usual sound.

“Hate to See Your Heart Break” was the only consistently slow song on the album, utilizing Williams’ ability to hit high notes. “Future” was also a slow song, lasting a whopping 7:52. It is beyond me how any band could churn out a slow, somewhat boring song and make it last almost eight minutes, but somehow Paramore manages to pull it off.

“Be Alone,” “Proof,” “Ankle Biter,” and “Part II” are all homages to Paramore’s early days, each song taking on the typical form of classic punk rock anthems. Williams howls over the thrashing of a guitar and drums throughout this set of songs.

Paramore also makes an obvious nod to their former bandmates, the Farro brothers, in the song, “Grow Up.” Williams sings about the need for maturation and that the separation was for better.

“Now,” “Still Into You,” and “Fast in my Car” has traces of pop in them, which is certainly something I wouldn’t call Paramore in their early days. The hooks are catchy and the lyrics very simple, making each song marketable to non-Paramore fans.

“Still Into You” is by far my most favorite song on the album. It stands out amidst the heavy guitar, occasional ukulele, and Williams’ ever-present wailing on the rest of the album. Not to say that Williams’ voice isn’t fantastic, because it definitely is. What makes “Still Into You” different was its entertaining concept and lack of unnecessary anger.

But the main problem I have with the new album is all the songs on the album sound too similar, making me feel like I was listening to the same exact song over and over again. Paramore experimented with a few new concepts in this album, but overall they repeated themselves.

In an era of music when everything has been done before and bubblegum pop dominates radio airwaves, I can certainly sympathize with Paramore’s efforts to stand out at all costs. But I don’t think a few songs featuring a ukulele and a greater pop influence is the way to impress fans.

“Paramore” is the band’s fourth album,  so they should be pros at this point. This album had to be a showstopper, something that would top the greatness of “Riot!” and “Brand New Eyes.”

Unfortunately, it is just another set of songs that all sound vaguely similar to each other. I was somewhat bored by the lack of complexity on this album that Paramore has been praised for in the past.

Granted, I am not a punk rock fan. I couldn’t tell you the distinction between punk rock artists, much less punk rock songs. Perhaps that is why Paramore appeals to me, because they have deviated so far from their punk rock roots that they can now be considered pop punk or alternative.

But that is also the problem. Even I felt a lack of identity in this album and maybe that’s why the songs felt too simple and pop-oriented.

Overall, the album was lackluster, even if it was a great effort on Paramore’s part. I give “Paramore” a 2.5 out of 4 stars.