10 Rock And Metal Albums From The 2000s The Critics Got Wrong
8. 30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars (2002)
30 Seconds to Mars launched their career with a terrific album that holds up almost two decades on from its release. Whilst critics were more positive than negative, few seemed to recognise the greatness of the band’s debut. Rolling Stone went so far as to describe the album as ‘dreary melodrama’.
Such a description seems bizarre in retrospect. From the opening of ‘Capricorn (A Brand New Name)’ to the closing stages of ‘Year Zero’, 30 Seconds to Mars hook the listener with a distinctive sound. Jared Leto’s vocals are both soothing and aggressive, and they work wonders alongside the heavy guitars, thunderous drums, and ambient-style electronics.
Whilst tracks like ‘Oblivion’ and ‘The End of the Beginning’ have unforgettable hooks, others stand out for their chilling atmosphere. ‘Buddha for Mary’ and ’93 Million Miles’, for instance, are incredibly bold tracks for a debut LP.
Though The Gazette called every song a ‘unique masterpiece’, the majority of reviewers failed to realise just how great 30 Seconds to Mars were when they arrived on the scene.