Description
The Killers – Imploding The Mirage – Vinyl Record
Released on August 21, 2020, Imploding the Mirage is The Killers’ sixth studio album and marks one of their most triumphant, uplifting, and anthemic records to date. It came at a time of uncertainty and transition—both globally and personally for frontman Brandon Flowers—and the music reflects a deep sense of perseverance, renewal, and self-discovery.
Unlike their introspective and melancholic 2017 album Wonderful Wonderful, which was shaped by personal struggles, Imploding the Mirage feels expansive, cinematic, and full of life. It blends Springsteen-style heartland rock, 80s synth-driven euphoria, and the wide-open desert imagery that has long defined The Killers’ aesthetic. Sonically, it embraces big, sweeping choruses, shimmering synths, and soaring guitar lines, making it feel like a spiritual successor to their 2008 masterpiece Day & Age.
Adding to its epic scope, the album features a host of guest artists, including Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), k.d. lang, Weyes Blood, and Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs). With production handled by Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado (of Foxygen), the album builds on The Killers’ signature arena-ready sound, while also exploring new wave, synth-pop, and Americana influences.
Much of Imploding the Mirage was shaped by Brandon Flowers’ move from Las Vegas to Utah, as well as his reflections on love, faith, identity, and resilience. The album’s central theme revolves around escaping darkness and stepping into the light, making it a hopeful and triumphant listening experience.
Unlike previous Killers albums that often focus on characters and storytelling, this record is deeply personal and spiritual. Flowers has said that the album represents breaking free from limiting beliefs and embracing change, which is mirrored in the album’s soaring, wide-open sound.
Key Tracks and Highlights
“My Own Soul’s Warning” – The explosive opening track sets the tone for the entire album. Featuring shimmering synths, a galloping rhythm, and a massive chorus, it’s an anthem of self-reflection and fate—one of the best Killers openers in years.
“Blowback” – A Springsteen-esque heartland rock song about a woman searching for freedom. It’s layered with warm synths, twangy guitar lines, and classic Killers storytelling.
“Dying Breed” – A passionate, synth-driven love song that builds into one of the album’s most euphoric moments. Flowers has called it one of the best songs he’s ever written, and it’s easy to see why—it’s both romantic and triumphant, capturing the feeling of standing together against all odds.
“Caution” (feat. Lindsey Buckingham) – The album’s lead single, and arguably its most anthemic track. Featuring a searing guitar solo by Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), “Caution” is a celebration of breaking free and chasing new horizons. It’s pure Killers magic—big, bold, and cinematic.
“Lightning Fields” (feat. k.d. lang) – A dreamy, synth-laden duet about longing and love across time, with k.d. lang’s deep, haunting vocals adding a unique contrast to Flowers’ soaring delivery.
“Fire in Bone” – One of the album’s funkiest, most unusual tracks, featuring a groovy bassline, off-kilter rhythm, and 80s-inspired production. The lyrics reflect a spiritual awakening, making it one of the most intriguing songs on the record.
“Running Towards a Place” – A propulsive, shimmering track about chasing dreams and escaping the past. The way the song builds makes it feel like driving full-speed toward something unknown but exciting.
“Imploding the Mirage” – The grand finale, and one of the album’s most epic moments. It starts with dreamy, atmospheric synths before exploding into an electrifying, galloping rhythm, capturing the essence of overcoming struggles and embracing change. It’s a perfect closing statement for the album’s journey.
Upon release, Imploding the Mirage received widespread acclaim, with many critics praising it as a return to form after the more subdued Wonderful Wonderful. It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart (The Killers’ sixth consecutive No. 1 in the UK) and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S.
Fans also embraced the album as a feel-good, escapist record, arriving at a time when the world was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its hopeful, uplifting energy made it a perfect antidote to the isolation and uncertainty of 2020.
While Imploding the Mirage is still relatively new, it has already solidified itself as one of The Killers’ strongest post-Sam’s Town records. It represents a band that isn’t afraid to evolve, embracing new influences while staying true to their cinematic, anthemic core.
The album also confirmed The Killers’ continued relevance in modern rock, proving that even nearly two decades into their career, they could still craft epic, meaningful, and exhilarating music.
In many ways, Imploding the Mirage feels like a love letter to the grand, heart-pounding magic of rock music—the kind that makes you want to throw your arms in the air and sing at the top of your lungs. It’s an album about breaking free, believing in something bigger, and running toward the light—which, in times of uncertainty, is exactly what the world needed.
Imploding the Mirage is The Killers at their most euphoric and life-affirming, blending Springsteen-style storytelling, widescreen synth-rock, and dreamy Americana landscapes. It’s an album about resilience, change, and chasing something greater, all wrapped in huge choruses, shimmering production, and electrifying instrumentation.
Whether you’re a longtime Killers fan or just discovering their music, Imploding the Mirage is a must-listen—a record that reminds you why rock music still has the power to inspire.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
My Own Soul’s Warning
Blowback
Dying Breed
Caution
Lightning Fields Featuring – k.d. lang
Fire In Bone
Running Towards a Place
My God Featuring – Weyes Blood
When The Dreams Run Dry
Imploding The Mirage
