Following this morning’s news of Bloc Party’s first new single in four years, Las Vegan rockers The Killers have followed suit with their own single, the first official taste of their forthcoming album, Battle Born, following their album teaser of a few weeks back.

We’ve already had a taste of the new record in the form of the previously leaked Raspberries’ cover “Go All The Way” for the Dark Shadows soundtrack, but today The Killers have released first single, “Runaways” taken from the band’s first album since 2008’s Day and Age.

A solid return to the sun-baked Springsteen Americana meets glam rock sound of 2005’s Sam’s Town, “Runaways” features some prettier synth work, some crunchier 80s-styled guitars in the kind of rousing arena anthem we’ve come to expect from the band’s high moments. All laced with the kind of fairytale narrative and mythic drama that frontman Brandon Flowers does so well.

Due for release on September 14th, Battle Born is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, is touted to be everything Killers fans have waited for since the quartet announced they’d be taking a hiatus at the start of 2010.  Their latest studio effort is named both after the words emblazoned on the Nevada flag, and after the same location in which it was recorded, the band’s own 2,000-square-foot recording studio situated in Winchester, Nevada that has hosted sessions for the likes of Motely Crüe and Elton John.

Along with “Runaways”, Battle Born is also set to contain – according to a press release from the band – the “heart-string-tugging emotional gravity-center” that is  “Here With Me,” and “the stadia-quaking electro-rock” of “Flesh & Bone.” Produced by the band alongside an all-star production team of Daniel Lanois (U2), Steve Lillywhite (The Rolling Stones), Stuart Price who worked on Day and Age, as well as Brendan O’Brien, who produced Flowers’ solo record Flamingo.

Have a listen to “Runaways”, the new Killers single below:

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