30 Seconds to Mars – 30 Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to Mars amassed quite a tsunami of industry buzz well before they had finished recording their self-titled debut, and for good reason. Their debut album is a cataclysmic car crash of progressive rock experimentation that draws on influences as far ranging as Pink Floyd, Rush, and Brian Eno. Keenly piecing together an intergalactic tapestry that harbors elements of industrial, prog rock, and modern alternative, 30 Seconds to Mars ventures well beyond the average boundaries other rock acts choose to limit themselves to. In doing so, these men have taken a daring new step in musical evolution, leaving vast corridors of sound open for the listener to meander down at will. Vocally, 30 Seconds to Mars proceeds to uncover new avenues of melody that such legendary singers as Bono and John Lennon surely helped inspire, yet the passion and heart that radiate from every miniscule whisper or gut-wrenching wail are breathtaking. These mesmerizing vocals are accompanied by some of the most awe-inspiring feats of musical expression captured on record since humans set foot on the moon. Lyrically, 30 Seconds to Mars escapes from the doldrums of introverted self-pity that are common for the modern rock landscape and instead offers an intriguing portrait of a futuristic existence. These space-age themes compliment the group's advanced musical achievements wonderfully. 30 Seconds to Mars has managed to record an album that breathes life into the empty shell that corporate rock has become, and in reanimating an avenue of musical expression that has for many years been on its deathbed, has quite possibly offered the single best rock experience of 2002. ~ Jason D. Taylor, All Music Guide