THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS – THIS IS WAR
Following the tidal wave of unexpected success of Thirty Seconds to Mars’ second record, A Beautiful Lie, the band underwent several years of turmoil, including a split with a former member and a 30-million dollars lawsuit, which gave birth to the title of their newest release, This Is War. Leto makes it abundantly clear that he is at war with something or someone, and he wants to start a revolution. Who or what that something is never becomes clear. In fact, the album is chop full of lyrical contradictions, and for a band that is so much about belief, there seems to be a surprising lack of it here.
Leto had no problem in finding an army for his revolution, as almost every track on the record contains at least a moment or two of hand-claps, foot stomps or group choruses, recordings of fans that had the opportunity to become part of the record via an event called The Summit, orchestrated by 30STM. Fans attended these events in several major cities around the globe, having themselves recorded and mixed to finish off the final product, and the album benefits greatly from this interaction.
The album opens with the words “It’s time to escape from the clutches of a name,” though what Leto is trying to escape from is, again, unclear. The track, entitled “Escape”, is closed with a massive chant of “This Is War,” by thousands of fans. The next track, “Night of the Hunter”, is an electronica beat-fest via Nine Inch Nails, and there are more than a few moments on the record where Leto’s voice strays into Reznor territory when perhaps it shouldn’t. Leto would do well to remain in the higher ranges, where is voice is strongest, and not in the quiet empty whisperings.
“Kings and Queens”, the album’s third track and first single, marks the point where the album begins to wind up, and the video displays once again the strong and admirable relationship between the band and its’ fans, who were invited to a massive evening bike ride for the shoot.
“This Is War”, while a grandiose song, is typical in its exercise of contradictions, as Leto sings “It’s the moment to live, it’s the moment to die,” and goes on to issue a warning to everyone that “This is war.” Again, Leto never says what it is he is fighting or fighting for, just that a war is beginning. Yet later on in the song he sings “The fight is done, the war is won”, leaving the listener confused as to how a war can begin and end in the span of five minutes. He also sings “I do believe in the light,” while on the following song, “100 Suns”, a direct segue from “This Is War”, he repeatedly states that “I believe in Nothing.”
Musically, “This Is War” is an inspiring song, where after a brief sonic interlude, Leto launches into the final chorus with the enormous backing vocals of the Echelon, the recorded fans. It swings down into the acoustic driven “100 Suns”, a song that is powerful in its own right, though, yet again, Leto defeats his own purpose when he sings “I believe in Nothing, not in peace and not in war,” leaving the listener asking, “Weren’t you just trying to start a war?” A few lines later are the words, “I believe in nothing, not in sin and not in God, I believe in Nothing, but the Truth and Who We Are.” As much as Leto sings about ideals, it is uncertain if he knows what his ideals are, and this listener was left asking, “What exactly is the Truth, Mr. Leto?”
“Hurricane” is an R&B rock love song, catchy and memorable. But “Closer to the Edge” is perhaps the record’s brightest point, and 30STM’s greatest achievement within this release. The combination of the raw power of A Beautiful Lie and the alien synth-scapes of their self-titled debut culminate here, with a driving electric intro and a climactic finish that takes the listener surfing on a nebula, waves of sweeping guitar overlaying a monolithic chorus, led by the best of Leto’s voice and the force of thousands of singing fans.
The aptly titled “Vox Populi” (Voice of the People) is not to be outdone, however, and is almost entirely led by the voices of the Echelon, singing “This is a call to arms, gather soldiers, time to go to war,” and for a brief moment, the listener almost believes in the revolution Leto promises.
However, this song ushers in the end of the triumph, as the latter third of the disc is largely lackluster, seeming more like B-sides then legitimate parts of the whole. “Search and Destroy”, “Alibi”, “Stranger in a Strange Land”, all forgettable, all sounding like the same song three times in a row, disappointing after the gear up of the previous songs.
This Is War is an album who’s glorious, beautiful and triumphant moments are unfortunately balanced out by its questionable ones. For someone who makes several snide references to Jesus, Leto certainly fancies himself a sort of savior, and suffers from a combination of rebel-without-a-cause syndrome and savior-complex. For a band that is about belief, there is little to believe in, little truth to be found on This Is War, unless you’re looking for aimless revolution and empty, meaningless words.
This Is War – 7
Music - 8
Lyrics - 5
Message - 4
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