Imploding the Mirage

Originally slated for earlier this year, Imploding the Mirage continues a format that The Killers have stuck to for over a decade now. With densely produced and massive stadium pop rock songs, the Las Vegas natives maintain their gargantuan anthems as they have since Day & Age. Although still a cut below their initial two records that brought them to prominence in the mainstream, with some of the most popular songs of their era, Imploding the Mirage may be the biggest the group have sounded in years.

There are some obvious complaints that could be thrown at Imploding the Mirage and The Killers musical style broadly. Their reliance on big hooks, big sounds, and big vocal performances may feel like they're trying to hard to appeal to their audience by sacrificing the songwriting and innovation. This issue leads to the songs rarely feeling entirely removed from the last, each one competing to be larger than the last. It can even become tiresome to get hit with this many stadium-friendly songs on one album, the listener expected to keep their energy up at all times.

Taken for what it is, The Killers actually put up a formidable performance here. The songs are memorable for the most part, with a sonic magnitude hard to forget. Much like Battle Born from 2012, the group blend in some heartland rock into their new wave, rock, and pop concoction, but here it feels less forced and more natural. The guest performances, from Lindsay Buckingham of yester-year to Weyes Blood of today, don't drastically change the record but bring in some spice.

Most importantly, however, The Killers are uncompromising in terms of sounding like anything but themselves. The group are tailor-made for an audience that are ready to be swept away, and perhaps these songs would inevitably be better in front of the crowd they are made for. Like them or not, The Killers know what kind of music they want to make and they stick to their guns and keep the colossal songs coming.

Certainly not the best album of the year, and not near the best work The Killers have ever put out, I can't come away saying I'm disappointed in Imploding the Mirage. When you come to an album from this group, you know what you're going into and you get what you pay for. Their immense sound is undeniable for what it is, and even if not wholly dynamic the songs provide for a powerful moment if graced the time.

Favorite track: Caution