The disc kicks into gear with "Flesh and Bone", a synth and keyboard laden opus that reintroduces us to the introspective lead vocals of Brandon Flowers, who has his own style and aura that puts him in a different class of frontmen who look to evoke the style of music they're playing and implement it either in their persona or what they wear when they're performing on stage. The disc's first single "Runaways" is an introspective, melodic tune that is classic Killers all the way with lightly tuned guitar riffs that build in intensity and Brandon's dynamic vocals adding the distinct hallmark touch to the song that is evident on all of their prior work up until this point. My favorite song off the new release is "The Way It Was", a bombastic yet simple tune that perfectly evokes The Killers musical mission here: create straight ahead simplistic tunes, then layer it upon distinct harmonies that when heard, sound like a pulsating meter getting higher and higher as the song progresses, an all around terrific tune. "A Matter of Time" brings down the kinetic energy quite a bit and instead focuses on a more simplistic approach with an excellent drum beat by Ronnie Vannucci Jr. that gives the song an organic component that is a welcome change of pace form the album we've heard so far.
The second half of the disc starts off with "Miss Atomic Bomb", a downtempo, moody number that ushers in a feel of melancholy, and shows off the band's ability to transcend different emotions and articulate exactly what is going on at this very moment. "Heart Of A Girl" is another low key number that is a perfect opportunity for Brandon to express his simplistic vocal persona that does a great job of telling a story and seeing how the listener reacts to the lyrics through the power of song, which is the primary goal of music in general. We start to usher in the album's end with "Be Still", an eloquent, passionate number that allows Brandon's voice to be the focal point of the song and where all of the sheer energy emanates from as well, giving the instrumentation an opportunity to relax a little bit and enjoy what the final songs have to offer the audience. The disc's title track closes everything out with a more upbeat approach that brings back the instrumentation for one final encore with symphonic arrangements and a simple outlook that give the song a proper way to exit and brings everything we've heard together at the forefront to examine firsthand what we've listened to on the way to the end. I was intrigued when I first heard The Killers back in 2004 when "Somebody Told Me" was impacting alternative radio that summer, and was amazed at the band's ability to craft highly textured songs that while they were within the alternative genre, brought in mixtures of indie rock and even some electronic influences as well that put the group in a different genre all their own and was highly revolutionary in transforming the genre in a sense where bands realized that they didn't have to reside within the genre they were playing in, and found that it was a good idea to step outside their comfort zone for a change and learn to see what's outside their window.
All in all, a solid and passable effort from the Killers, who have emerged from their four year break recharged, refocused, and ready to re stake their claim as one of alternative rock's most lasting and most evolving bands that is easily able to adapt to the ever changing music world that we live in.
Album Score: 3.5/5
Track Listing:
- Flesh and Bone
- Runaways
- The Way It Was
- Here With Me
- A Matter of Time
- Deadlines and Commitments
- Miss Atomic Bomb
- The Rising Tide
- Heart of a Girl
- From Here On Out
- Be Still
- Battle Born
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