The Killers’ lead singer Brandon Flowers is going solo for his next album — and he’s taking on a whole new genre.
Flowers announced Tuesday that his new album, “Thrasher,” will be released in August. And instead of The Killers’ signature alt-rock sounds, Flowers’ third solo album will be full of country harmonies.
“Two things can be true at the same time,” Flowers said in a video that he posted on Instagram. “The fact that I love new wave and rock ’n’ roll has been well documented. But a life is long enough to allow for more.”
Flowers’ voiceover in the video is set to images of Western landscapes, including deserts and mountains, as well as footage of him at work recording the album.
“I’m larger now than I was 20 years ago,” Flowers continued in the video, “and I unlocked a room that feels like it’s been waiting for me all along: country Western music.”
What we know about Brandon Flowers’ new album
Although The Killers are mostly recognized for their ’80s-inspired rock music, Flowers was introduced to country music from a young age by his father, Terry Flowers, while growing up in Nephi, Utah, according to Rolling Stone.
Flowers’ father loved music by artists like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and their sounds have had an influence on the band’s work.
But “Thrasher” will take those influences a step farther. The album was recorded in Nashville, and will feature collaborations with David Rawlings and Charlie McCoy, a harmonica player who is best known for his work with Bob Dylan, per Pitchfork.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my way back to my father’s music — ‘Country-Western’ (as he called it) — and discovered that the stories I carry really feel most at home in the skin of this beautiful American tradition,” Flowers said in a statement.
“Thrasher” will be Flowers’ first solo album since “The Desired Effect” in 2015.
The first single from the new album, “Plans,” will be released this Friday, and the full album will be released Aug. 21.
Will there be another Killers album?
Despite Flowers’ solo work, The Killers aren’t going anywhere yet.
The band is planning to release a new album next year, Flowers told The Sun earlier this year.
“My best guess is that in 2027 you will get the best Killers record,” he said.
And in the video announcing “Thrasher,” Flowers assured fans that the pivot to country music doesn’t mean that he’s moving away from rock.
“This is not me running away from rock ’n’ roll,” Flowers said. “I don’t want to replace my old songs. I simply found room for more.”