By Tine Roycroft

Released in December 2009, 30 Seconds to Mars’ latest album, This is War, turns any skeptic of the neo-punk movement into a full-on believer.  The band, which sprung from the collective forehead of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto in 1998, has grown, matured, and perfected its mission.  What has come out of that journey is some damn good music.

Along with guitarist and keyboardist Tomo Mili?evi?, who joined the Letos in 2003, the brothers have not created an album ~ they have collected a cultural history presented through song.  In the lyrics lie the questions of faith, religions, monotheism, polytheism, belief and redemption.  This is War includes everything from quiet stark songs such “100 Suns” to full-out anthems like “Kings and Queens.”

The album dictates the mood with “Escape” ~ a few fleeting moments of instruments and chants that strike the primal chords within the vital heartbeat of each listener.  No matter how short it may be, it sets the tone for what is yet to come.

Throughout the album, the sensitive listener can be struck by the sharp images presented in the lyrics.  “Night of the Hunter,” for example, with the sampling of an eagle’s cry, or perhaps the cry of the phoenix rising up from the ashes, jars the listener out of a false sense of security and then takes him on a rough ride of intense drumming and harsh truths ~ “[I was] Born from the womb of a bad spell.”  Jared Leto’s vocals consistently surprise with their power and sheer range.  In this song, one sees him in some forgotten temple, throwing songs up to the rafters ~ the notes tumbling down on the few who still go there to pay homage.

A quick popular favorite off of the album is by far and away “Kings and Queens.”  Think instant anthem.  The drums dizzy up the listener as Jared bleeds his heart out to anyone who will listen.  “We were the kings and queens of promise,” he reminds us.  Calls to action do not get any clearer than that.  Already gaining speed with radio stations, this track is probably the most beloved on this album.

A sleeper crowd fav?  All signs would point to the song “Alibi.”  In this, neo punk loses its hot jagged glass edge and what is created is quite beautiful.  A journey has come to an end in this song ~ a war was lost but the battle is still raging.  Piano, drums, guitar all play at the same time, but in no way come together at first, which creates stunning solitude among the instruments ~ like three spirits whispering their stories, speaking over each other, unaware of each other.  “And I fell apart,” Leto sings, “but got back up again.”  Finally, the song comes home as all instruments join together and a new awareness is achieved.  An excellent album for 30 Seconds to Mars and one that belongs in your collection.

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