After a four-year hiatus, The Killers have returned with a new album, one that makes up for their last project, the mediocre and slightly disappointing Day & Age. Battle Born opens with the power anthem “Flesh and Bone,” which, with its echoey choruses and synthetic keyboards, is reminiscent of The Killers’ earlier material. But Battle Born strikes a perfect equilibrium between the staple Killers sound and originality. The band’s previous albums included songs like “Andy You’re A Star” and “Mr. Brightside,” which were defined by a youthful, and at times even teenage, emotion. The tracks on Battle Born have a more mature tone; they touch on the mechanics of life, its breakdowns, and the need to soldier on in the face of hardship. With songs like “Carry Me Home,” and the titular “Battle-Born,” lead singer Brandon Flowers and the rest of the band have proven that they can be innovative without selling out.
