Pressure Machine is a concept album based on lead singer Brandon Flowers' childhood in Nephi, Utah.

No singles were released from the album, although music videos were produced for "Quiet Town" and "Runaway Horses" as well as "The Getting By II" from the deluxe edition.

Pressure Machine originated during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Killers recognized that the planned Imploding the Mirage world tour would have to be postponed.

Although the Killers briefly considered using some of the songs left over from Imploding the Mirage to start their next album, they instead chose to embrace the idea of a concept record based on Brandon Flowers's childhood.

That’s what became ‘Pressure Machine’.”[4] Dave Keuning rejoined the band in studio after having completed his own solo album A Mild Case of Everything, released in June 2021.

For "Quiet Town", Flowers reflected on a teenage couple, Tiffany JaNae Taylor and Raymond Leo Newton, that were killed at a grade crossing accident with a Union Pacific train in 1994 when both were 17 years old.

"[27] Helen Brown of The Independent was less positive stating, "Some of these lyrics would be better sold if Flowers could allow himself to stop the eyes-closed singing and adopt a conversational tone.

A little more campfire crackle to his delivery would have helped lift these good short stories from the prettily glowing embers of forgettable and occasionally recycled melodies.

"[21] NME's review stated regarding the album, "It's a homecoming of discreet intentions, not the pompous heroes return they're likely used to – the modesty and subtlety suits them.

"[22] Candace McDuffie of Paste felt that the "emotional turmoil [of the record] makes it a thrilling—and kind of frightful—experience from start to finish.

"[23] Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork was also critical, stating, "Pressure Machine rarely escapes Flowers' Brandon Flowers-ness: try as he might—and you do get the sense that he's trying so, so hard—his usual wide-tipped brush can't do justice to what should be finely detailed scenes.

"[24] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine was positive towards the album and called it "the band's most sonically restrained effort to date.

"[25] Sputnikmusic praised the album stating, "It's almost unbelievable how much more profound, mature, and seamless all of the songwriting, lyrics, and symbolism is here compared to any prior Killers' outing.