Thrasher

Brandon Flowers

Thrasher

Third solo release and first since 2015 from The Killers frontman recorded in Nashville by Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado

ADM rating[?]

6.9

Label
EMI
UK Release date
21/08/2026
US Release date
21/08/2026
  1. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    Even a couple of bafflingly misguided social commentary songs can’t detract from the joys of Flowers’ classically full-throated commitment to the Nashville bit
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  2. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    The Killers frontman was once a teenager obsessed with New Order and The Smiths. Now he’s a 45-year-old dad embracing his inner Garth Brooks
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  3. 8.0 |   All Music

    Thrasher is an emotional ride, one where you crack a wistful smile through the tears, and a welcome road for Flowers to travel as he takes another step into his past in order to grow in the future
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  4. 8.0 |   Hot Press

    Behind Flowers, Nashville royalty David Rawlings, Bruce Bouton and Charlie McCoy lend the whole thing grit, swing and old-school authority
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  5. 8.0 |   Uncut

    Flowers' take on country hews to the proto-Americana of Springsteen and Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell as he unleashes his chromium pipes and unfettered emotionality on image-rich tales like "Plans", "Tiger's Blood" and the climactic "An American Dream". Print edition only

  6. 8.0 |   Mojo

    He's always been a crooner in the tradition of Waylon Jennings, and he's always had Kris Krisfofferson's nose for a tale. Print edition only

  7. 8.0 |   Clash

    ‘Thrasher’ pulls off the impressive trick of being both remarkably emotional and poignant and also heaps of fun
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  8. 8.0 |   Sputnik Music (staff)

    Even if Thrasher comes off as something of an equidistant compromise, it’s still a wholly satisfying work that takes a blend of rural-facing genres and makes them glisten in a way only Brandon Flowers can
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  9. 8.0 |   NME

    On his third solo effort, ‘Mr Brightside’ comes out his cage to vividly tell us about his childhood
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  10. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    Brandon Flowers’ melodies are largely airy, ebullient, even life-affirming. Articulating the troubles we face, he also, and perhaps ultimately, pays homage to our resilience
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  11. 7.0 |   Beats Per Minute

    His love of country-western is on display and there ain’t nobody who can get in his way of showing it
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  12. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    Though certain skeptical attitudes are held regarding Flowers as an artist and man, THRASHER ranks among the year’s most enjoyable and perhaps intriguing listens
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  13. 7.0 |   Pitchfork

    With Waylon Jennings’ drawl and a profound sincerity, the Killers frontman sells the blustery, Nashville-via-Utah sound of his gaudy but affecting new country album
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  14. 7.0 |   Far Out

    To give him his dues, and while admittedly running the risk of sounding slightly patronising, this is proper country and western, and not just some half-arsed attempt at a cash grab
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  15. 6.0 |   Record Collector

    While his words and voice remain smart and wry, whether you enjoy it or not will depend entirely on your liking for, or tolerance of, that genre. Print edition only

  16. 6.0 |   Exclaim

    Hopefully, Thrasher is still able to give Flowers a renewed sense of purpose that he can then bring to his bandmates and finally make an eighth album worthy of the Killers' canon. If he got anything else out of it, you can only hope it was the subtle hint to not quit his day job
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  17. 5.0 |   Rolling Stone

    The Killers frontman does a solid job channeling his Nashville heroes on Thrasher, but the mystery train doesn’t always stay on track
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  18. 4.2 |   Paste Magazine

    Thrasher marks the Killers frontman’s pivot to country, but it mostly feels contrived, like he’s hitching a bandwagon rather than blazing his own trail
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  19. 3.5 |   Spectrum Culture

    On his country-fried solo album, the Killers frontman doesn’t seem to have the attention span to work out the songs, offering half-hearted choruses and chiming bridges while he searches for an idea
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