Battle Born

Las Vegas-based post-punk/new wave pop provocateurs the Killers took a two-year hiatus after the release of 2008's Day & Age, allowing vocalist Brandon Flowers and drummer Ronnie Vannucci the opportunity to release some long-gestating solo material, and providing the remaining members some much needed time off. After reconvening in early 2011, the band got to work on its fourth studio album, enlisting a small army of notable producers, including Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Damian Taylor, Stuart Price, and Brendan O'Brien. The resulting 12-track Battle Born was preceded by the predictably ambitious and soaring first single, "Runaways."