As avid 30 Seconds to Mars fans, we had high expectations of their latest album, This Is War. -We were not disappointed. 
Several of the tracks live up to the intense almost dramatic music they are known for with a concentration on aggressive vocals and studio production (this album does weigh heavy on the production). This includes their first single, “Kings and Queens,” as well as “Night of the Hunter,” “Closer to the Edge,” and “Vox Populi.” This album also features an interesting collaboration with Kanye West and Brandon Flowers of The Killers (rumored on piano?) on a track called “Hurricane.” Some may feel this collaboration is a bold and almost a sell-out type move on the band’s behalf. Regardless, this track is bound to get some attention, if not radio play, then some “love” on MTV (They still play some music right? Maybe just a little?).
The album is not complete without a softer side: “Alibi,” “100 Suns” and “L490” help transition the album’s intense climatic moments and give the album a storytelling feel.
As a whole, This is War is thematic in nature. Not only is the album title the name of one of their songs, but they also use the title as a line that reoccurs in a track or two. Other warfare like references can be picked up in other tracks and there are some musical themes going on which include deep eerie vocal droning, a children’s choir/chanting in several tracks and ambient/synth progressions weaving in and out of the album.
Though This is War sounds like more went into this studio mix than on A Beautiful Lie, the energy and execution behind the vocals of Jared Leto draw you in and allow you to loose yourself in at least one track.
Sara’s favorite line in the album – “Honest to god I will break your heart, tear you to pieces and rip you apart.” – “Night of the Hunter”
Andrew’s favorite line in the album “To the leader, the pariah, the victim, the messiah.” – “This is War”
This is War is available December 8, 2009, and those of you who have played the BioWare video game Dragon Age: Origins may have heard all or part of 30 Seconds to Mars’ title track “This is War” while playing the game, or in the game’s trailer.
Track Listing:
01. Escape
02. Night of the Hunter
03. Kings and Queens
04. This is War
05. 100 Suns
06. Hurricane
07. Closer to the Edge
08. Vox Populi
09. Search and Destroy
10. Alibi
11. Stranger in a Strange Land
12. L490
Bonus track versions:
01. Kings and Queens (LA Riots Vocal Mix)
02. Night of the Hunter (Flood Remix)
30 Seconds to Mars: website | myspace
Co-Reviewed by Sara Monahan and Andrew Dunlap
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