Album Review: Thirty Seconds to Mars – ‘America’

TSTM

Thirty Seconds to Mars is one of the biggest modern rock bands in the world, and has built an empire of fans over the last two decades. They look to add to their great legacy with a new album, America.

Let’s get this out of the way:

I’ve seen some negative feedback on social media about the musical direction of this record. It’s noticeably very commercial and more pop than rock. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE ALBUM IS BAD. Bands grow. Bands try new things. I think it’s important to actually listen before making your own opinion.

If there’s one thing I’ve always loved about this band, it’s that they always adapt with each release. Listen back to any of their albums, and you’ll notice similarities to artists from that era. But get this – it always sounds like 30STM regardless. Jared Leto’s unique vocal style accompanied with epic lyrics has been a consistent part of the band since album one. America is no different.

That being said, let’s dive in!

Some things in particular that I really liked about this album:

Epic Lyrics. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not Thirty Seconds to Mars if the lyrics aren’t epic. I can just picture someone shouting the words to “Live Like a Dream” or “Great Wide Open” into the grand canyon. This is nothing new. This is classic 30STM.

“Patriotic” Drum Samples. This is a very cool, yet subtle, element I picked up on. The album is called America and the military snare drum cadence is reminiscent of battles from early American history. It pairs well with the epic vibe of the band. Listen for it in “Walk on Water”, “Dangerous Night”, and “Love is Madness”.

Halsey. I wasn’t expecting much from “Love is Madness” featuring Halsey, so I was pleasantly surprised by how damn good it was. Leto and Halsey collaborate in a unique way, exchanging lines back and forth throughout the song. On the surface, it seems like a marketing ploy; but it’s actually just a really solid track!

Side note: You can make the album cover your own, using six words reflecting “your” America. So what does America mean to you?

Favorite Tracks: