Native to Las Vegas, The Killers was formed in 2001 and were able to get recognized with their debuting album “Hot Fuss” in 2004. The Killers saw high success throughout the years with their top hits being “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me.” With the release of their latest album “Imploding The Mirage” on Aug. 21, 2020, The Killers deliver an album that’s lackluster.
Frontman Brandon Flowers and drummer Mark Stoerner bring funky piano sounds and strong vocals to the album but still don’t sound right without their lead guitarist Dave Keuning. Keuning left the band after the release of the album “Wonderful, Wonderful” in 2017. It was obvious that “Imploring the Mirage” was missing Keuning’s guitar riffs and solos, something that has helped distinguish The Killers’ sound from other bands.
The lead single of the album, “My Own Soul’s Warning,” is fun to listen to and tells the story of a young man finding his way in the world. The only problem is that the rest of the songs on the album sound similar to it. It was hard to determine where one song ended and one began, the lyrics and rhythm sounding very much the same. The band plays with refreshing beats and almost a funk-like tune, but the lyrics sing of the same issue of trying to find yourself and love. The repetitiveness didn’t garner another listen to the album.
Unlike previous works, The Killers featured other artists in two of their songs. Weyes Blood was featured in “My God” and K.D. Lang in “Lightning Fields,” yet the songs still failed to do anything for the album. “Imploding The Mirage” only had ten songs, which is less than what the band usually releases. Without Keuning, the remaining members struggled to write the album. This led to the album being rewritten multiple times before its release. Even with their best efforts, the album failed to deliver a meaningful impact.
Feeling reckless due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Flowers has said that the band is already working on another album to follow “Imploding The Mirage.” Hopefully the next album will leave a lasting impression.
