4 stars
Thirty Seconds to Mars wins the battle.
This Is War showcases poetic lyrics that make the songs an interesting listen, if a bit hard to relate to. The band attempts to push the envelope a bit too much at times, with almost an entire minute of feedback at the beginning of L490, when they actually have much more success with the simpler, 100 Suns. This is War contains great guitar riffs, beautiful lyrics, as well as standout vocals and impressive harmonizing by lead singer Jared Leto. Ultimately, these are qualities that make up for whatever else might be lacking in the album.
Kirsty’s fave track: 100 Suns