Album Review: The Killers - Battle Born

Named after the phrase emblazoned on the corner of their home state Nevada's flag and their very own recording studio, Battle Born had a hard act to follow for a band that has been one of the world's biggest rock acts for over a decade, so the title is very fitting.

Fans will be pleased to hear that this album houses a solid selection of big power ballads, harking back to the epic numbers on Sam's Town and Hot Fuss, but there's nothing really new here and no big change like the significant pop shift of previous album, Day & Age.

Opener, Flesh & Bone, is the only really pop-influenced track on the album, with a bright, fun intro that sounds something similar to an '80s computer game soundtrack before the trademark uplifting chorus takes hold and turns this into what is sure to be a big stadium hit. Runaways is the first single to be released and is exactly what you'd expect from the band with lots of powerful vocals and big guitar riffs that hark back to the great days of When You Were Young.

Of course it wouldn't be The Killers without some good old acoustic-filled country numbers like From Here On Out, which takes a lead from Fleetwood Mac. In contrast, Be Still is a beautifully emotional ballad with some fantastic vocal harmonies by singer Brandon Flowers that really show his talent as a lead man. The final and title track cranks things back up to another epic stadium number with crashing drums, big guitar riffs and a banging chorus that they do so well.

Battle Born is The Killers as everyone knows and loves them, but don't expect any surprises.