After a short hiatus, The Killers are back in business. Battle Born, named after the phrase that appears on the Nevada state flag, simply kicks off where Day & Age was laid to rest. With that in mind, the tour of Day & Age was concluded at Good Vibrations in Melbourne on a sad note, due to the passing of Brandon Flowers’ mother, with many left wondering when we would see the band again.
Fortunately, The Killers have returned with album number four. The much-hyped Battle Born delivers in many ways. Beginning with quite possibly the strongest point of the album, Flesh & Bones continues their trend of the pop – synth style with enjoyable guitar riffs along with lyrics from Brandon Flowers that define what The Killers are all about. Being the long-awaited first single, Runaways follows suit. The intro lets us know that this song will become an instant hit. The build-up to the chorus of ‘We can’t wait till tomorrow’… ‘And we all just runaway / I knew it when I met you / I’m not gonna let you runaway’, will be treated to a great sing-a-long when performed live.
The album continues to develop with ballads such as Here With Me and Be Still, while Miss Atomic Bomb, The Rising Tide and title track Battle Born will prove to be hits throughout stadiums and festivals. As a personal favourite, From Here On Out, combined with the sound of acoustic and slide guitars, takes a different approach for the band. Harmonies in the chorus include the lyrics ‘Hey, from here on out / Friends are gonna be hard to come by / Left us wondering what it all was about’, make a perfect rendition of a successful attempt at a country song, with the only downside being that it is the shortest on the album.
There are a number of slower songs on the album, including Heart of a Girl and Deadlines and Commitments; however, they only highlight Brandon Flowers’ compelling voice. There are no unusual developments that distinguish this album from any of its predecessors: Hot Fuss, Sam’s Town or Day & Age, as these albums all consist of their own anthems and ballads. However, Battle Born is a must buy for any fan to add to their collection of The Killers. Having seen The Killers three times, the band never disappoints.
Battle Born is out September 18. Don’t miss The Killers live at Big Day Out 2013.
