The Killers - Battle Born Review
rating: 4
Since their last album, The Killers have had a hiatus that included a solo stint for lead singer Brandon Flowers and for a short while it appeared that the band could be no more. However with 2012 came the news that the group were once again recording together, followed by a few festival appearances over the summer, the culmination of which is their fifth album, Battle Born. From opener Flesh and Bone it is almost as though the last six years havent happened and The Killers never went away. Flashy synths, engaging melodies and the distinct vocal talent of Flowers combine with Springsteenesque lyrics to once again build on everything learned from their previous albums to create a rock-pop album that once again defines them from their peers. Lead single Runaways set the feel for what was to come, with a thundering, soaring chorus that has become the staple of their work, and it is probably not even the strongest track on the album. Highlights include the catchy, soul-searching The Way It Was and Here With Me, both of which make use of some terrific backing vocals and building melodies that seem to incorporate all the good things that used to appear in 80s rock tracks with the modern sound The Killers have been delivering since Hot Fuzz back at the turn to the millennium. For those who have listened to some more obscure rock over the years, there are also hints of the pop rock of Queens Roger Taylor apparent in tracks like The Rising Tide, which sounds very similar to tracks on Taylors Strange Frontier album. In a bit of a contrast to the rest of the album, the country-sounding From Here On Out seems to be based on the same template as their Christmas single, The Cowboys Christmas Ball to produce something between a hoe-down and a feel-good driving track that is as infectious as any pop song of the last decade. There is something haunting about the musical breaks in many of the songs, subtle piano melodies ghosting through the synthesisers and drumbeat which has once again proved to be an evolution of the band from their early songs like Somebody Told Me and Mr Brightside. As a solid album, Battle Born is another addition to The Killers catalogue that will likely gain them a new band of followers while more that pleasing the fans that have waited so long for it to come. Standout tracks: The Way It WasMiss Atomic BombFrom Here On OutBattle Born