Buckle up, folks! Brandon Flowers is back with a new solo album that's set to rip apart your heartstrings like a rag doll in a mosh pit – 'Thrasher' drops on 21st August through Island Records. This one's personal, a deep dive into the childhood of the Killers' iconic frontman.
Get ready for a sonic trip back to small-town Utah, where Flowers spent his formative years, soaking up country legends like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with his old man in the passenger seat. It's no secret that Brandon's got roots in rock 'n' roll, but this time around he's embracing the Americana vibe, one he explored on Killers classics like 'Sam's Town'.
The album was crafted by an all-star team including Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado, alongside some of Nashville's finest – pedal steel master Bruce Bouton, guitar legend David Rawlings, and 85-year-old session ace Charlie McCoy (he worked with Bob Dylan back in the day!). And don't even get us started on the tunes: 'Plans' sets the tone for a record that's equal parts melancholy and humour, featuring thinly veiled stories from Flowers' youth.
Standout tracks like 'One Of Us', a tribute to his late brother-in-law, and 'Miss America', which captures the nostalgia of 80s shopping mall pageants, promise to give you goosebumps. And then there's 'An American Dream', a poignant reflection on his mum and their final moments together as his dad was nearing the end. It's not your average Brandon Flowers album – it's like he's trading in his rock 'n' roll heart for an acoustic guitar and a healthy dose of country soul.
But don't worry, die-hard Killers fans: this isn't a departure from his roots; more like an expansion of them. As Brandon puts it, "This is not me running away from rock n’ roll – I simply found room for more." And with pre-orders available now, you can get your hands on 'Thrasher' as soon as it drops – UK audiences will be able to stream the album on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.