Album Review: 30 Seconds to Mars – This is War
On Tuesday, 30 Seconds to Mars released their third studio album, and first album since 2005, titled This Is War. Creating the album has been a very unique process for 30 Seconds to Mars as they found themselves in the midst of a lawsuit with their previous record label among other things. Through much adversity they have created a unique sounding, worth-the-wait kind of album that you will most definitely enjoy. Below you’ll see my ratings for each individual song on the album and I’ve also recommended which songs you should download from the album and which ones you can skip.
Before I dive in, let me just say that this is a fantastic album. Easily one of the best of 2009. However, 30 Seconds to Mars decided to experiment with something. They invited fans from all over the world to recording sessions where they recorded them singing and making various noises. On one or two tracks that would be a really cool effect. But 30 Seconds to Mars decided to include an element of this in EVERY SONG. I can’t tell you how many songs on this album are so close to perfection but fall short because of their desire to involve their fans. I’ll talk more about this during my reviews on each song.
Each track is rated on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the best possible score.
Track 1: Escape (1/10)
Escape is basically a 2 minute intro track to the album. There is some quiet synth going on with some fan noise at the end. I recommend only getting this track if you plan on listening to the whole album from start to finish.
Track 2: Night of the Hunter (9/10)
Night of the Hunter is one of the best songs on the album. I love the beat of the track, the creepy delivery from Jared Leto and the breaks between each part of the song. The only thing I don’t like about this song, and this is something you’ll be hearing me say A LOT about this album is the use of the crowd. This is one of the instances on the album where the song would have been a perfect 10/10 had they just kept Jared Leto doing his own backup vocals.
Track 3: Kings and Queens (9/10)
Kings and Queens is the first single off of This is War and it is a fantastic track. I love the poetry in this song and the way it builds up until the end. Great vocals by Leto. With was the perfect song to be the first single of the album, and one you should definitely add to your collection. The fan inclusion on this song I actually liked. One of the few instances I thought it was appropriate and made the song better.
Track 4: This is War (8/10)
I’m not a big fan of the way this song starts out. It takes the fan noise from the intro track and expands it a little long. It doesn’t add any value to the track and really takes the song down a notch. I love the intensity of the song and it is pretty well written. The first line of the chorus is a little weak, in my opinion (“From the left, to the right, we will fight, to the death”).
Track 5: 100 Suns (6/10)
This is a very short acoustic track that it is dark and well written. My only complaints are how short it is (under 2 minutes) and the random cheering of the crowd on the track. The crowd really ruins the mood and sounds super cheesy. They basically end up cheering at the end.
Track 6: Hurricane (10/10)
This song is EPIC. This song is unbelievably well constructed. I absolutely love the piano in the track, it really makes it. I think Jared Leto is at his best vocally with the song. If I could get you to download one song off of the album to play over and over again it would be this one. The song is just over six minutes long, but because it is so well composed you don’t even notice. One of the best 30 Seconds to Mars has ever recorded. I of course hate the crowd involvement at the end of the track. I really wish I could get this track without them included and with Jared doing his own backup vocals. Kanye West was supposed to be on this track but the version with him on it was pulled from the album due to a conflict between the record labels. I imagine it will make its way out there eventually, although I can’t imagine why they would change this song with how perfect the way it is.
Track 7: Closer to the Edge (10/10)
This song will most definitely be one of the singles off of the album. The chorus is flawless and, again, the delivery and composition of the song is spot on. I can definitely see this one being the most played song on the radio of all of the songs on the album as it is also more upbeat than the other tracks. In all serious, why why why did they need the crowd in this one too?
Track 8: Vox Populi (8/10)
Vox Populi has a lot of crowd involvement but it works with the way they composed the song. It is meant to be a group rallying song and so it makes sense for them to be chanting along with the chorus and at the beginning of the track. It is a good overall track but not something I see as being released as a single. I imagine it would be great live, too.
Track 9: Search and Destroy (8/10)
I love the opening of Search and Destroy as you get a whisper-like delivery from Jared Leto and a great drum beat. The song builds in intensity as it goes on, and it is well composed lyrically. I love how catchy the chorus is and lucky for me the crowd volume is softer than on other tracks. Again, most likely not a single but overall a solid song worth downloading.
Track 10: Alibi (8.5/10)
Alibi starts off with a soft piano piece which helps set the mood for the song. The song reminds me a lot of A Modern Myth. This is a beautiful ballad-like piece that will definitely mellow you out. If you like darker, sadder tracks, than you’ll love this song. Great delivery again by Leto. Oh and the best part is: there is no crowd involvement on this track!!
Track 11: Stranger in a Strange Land (6/10)
The one thing I’m not a big fan of with this song is the 90 second intro. It’s not that I’m against long intros, but there really wasn’t a point to the intro music with this song. The beat basically stopped and then the actual song started. This song isn’t bad but it is forgettable. I think it is a nice compliment to the album but it isn’t a must-have by any means.
Track 12: L490 (1/10)
I don’t understand the point of this track. It is an obnoxious instrumental track that towards the end has monks chanting.
Overall, I give this album a 9/10. The only things I’d change about it would be to make it longer and for the love of God take out the crowd in almost all of the songs. If you take out the instrumental tracks it is really only 10 songs long. I highly recommend that you buy this album and play the shit out of it, but if you are still hesitant you should download these songs:
- Hurricane
- Closer to the Edge
- Kings & Queens
- Night of the Hunter
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