AMG Review of This Is War

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

On This Is War, 30 Seconds to Mars shift their music with the shifting times, adopting a hybrid of the Killers’ retro new wave and My Chemical Romance’s gothic prog, winding up with a sound that suits their stance. Producers Steve Lillywhite and Flood, both veterans of U2, do give This Is War an appropriately epic scale, helping to bring into focus this mix of synth rock, metal, and prog flavors with Auto-Tuned vocals, gurgling synthesized loops, Kanye cameos, and a children's choir on almost every other song. This move toward goth-glam requires 30 Seconds to emphasize hooks and gives them aural variety, which makes this their most appealing album.