Last time Paramore played Reading and Leeds they were positioned just below Blink-182, they appeared ready to pounce, just one mammoth album or huge hit from taking that next step, and headlining in their own right.

“Hello Cold World”, Paramore latest single, will give us the clearest indication to date as to whether, love them or hate them, they can make that leap to headline status.

The song is the second release in the band’s “Single’s Club” offering, where they are giving a way one track each month in the build up to Christmas as a way of thanking their fans (December’s track was “Renegade”).

Strictly Our Opinion: It sounds gloriously poppy, it’s still written from a depressive perspective, but it ranks among Paramore’s more upbeat efforts and in is in no way overwrought in the style of “Decode” and “Brick By Boring Brick”.

This could easily split Paramore fans right down the middle, as so many younger fans in particular, are drawn in by the band’s bleaker, agnsty imagery; will they love a more straight faced “chin up” pop song? We’ll soon find out. One things for sure, this is the closest Paramore have ever sounded to new wave.

Tags: David Hayter, Paramore