Complete List Of Thirty Seconds To Mars Songs From A to Z

Formed in Los Angeles in 1998 by brothers Jared and Shannon Leto, Thirty Seconds to Mars emerged as a band with big ideas and relentless ambition. Jared, a rising actor at the time, initially tried to keep his film career separate from the band’s identity, determined that the music would stand on its own. With Jared handling vocals, rhythm guitar, and songwriting, and Shannon behind the drums, they began crafting a sound rooted in post-grunge and alternative rock, influenced by the era’s raw energy but layered with a cinematic flair that foreshadowed their future trajectory.

Their self-titled debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, was released in 2002 under Immortal and Virgin Records. Produced by Bob Ezrin and Brian Virtue, the album was a dense, concept-heavy record built around themes of human struggle and existential questions, reflecting the band’s philosophical leanings. Although it didn’t achieve immediate mainstream success, the album received strong critical feedback and set the foundation for what would come. Songs like “Capricorn (A Brand New Name)” and “Edge of the Earth” garnered attention from alternative radio and hinted at the band’s broader ambitions.

The band’s breakthrough came with the 2005 release of A Beautiful Lie, their second studio album. Featuring more personal and emotionally accessible lyrics, the album resonated with a much wider audience. It spawned several major singles, including “Attack,” “From Yesterday,” and the anthemic “The Kill (Bury Me),” which became a massive hit on alternative rock charts. The song’s music video, inspired by The Shining, earned acclaim for its cinematic quality and creativity, winning the MTV2 Award at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. The album’s release was also notable for its unique marketing, which included golden tickets inserted into CD copies that granted fans access to private concerts and meet-and-greets.

In 2008, the band became embroiled in a highly publicized legal battle with EMI, their label, over breach of contract, with the label suing them for $30 million. The band countered that the contract was invalid under California labor laws. This dispute delayed the release of their third album but eventually settled in their favor. Out of that tension came This Is War (2009), a project marked by sonic experimentation and conceptual ambition. The band embraced a more electronic and expansive sound, incorporating synthesizers, orchestral elements, and choral arrangements. Singles like “Kings and Queens,” “Closer to the Edge,” and the title track reinforced their new sonic identity and topped alternative charts.

This Is War also launched the band into one of the most ambitious touring schedules in rock history. Their “Into the Wild Tour” included over 300 shows across six continents, and in December 2011, they were awarded a Guinness World Record for the most live shows performed during a single album cycle. The band’s concerts became known for their theatricality, fan involvement, and visual production, solidifying their reputation as one of the most immersive live acts of the 2010s.

Their fourth studio album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, arrived in 2013 and continued the trend of blending rock with electronic and experimental influences. Produced by Jared Leto and Steve Lillywhite, the album featured singles such as “Up in the Air,” which became the first commercial music single sent into space when it was launched aboard a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station. Songs like “City of Angels” and “Do or Die” further cemented the band’s arena-ready sound and their emphasis on visual storytelling, with music videos that served more as short films than standard promotional clips.

The band’s multimedia aspirations became most evident with the release of Artifact, a 2012 documentary directed by Jared Leto under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins. The film chronicled the band’s legal dispute with EMI and provided an inside look at the music industry’s shifting landscape. The film won the People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and served as a bold critique of record label practices, giving fans deeper insight into the struggles behind the scenes.

In 2018, they returned with America, a sonically diverse album that ventured into pop, trap, and electro-rock. Featuring collaborations with Halsey and A$AP Rocky, America debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, proving the band’s continued relevance. The album was supported by a bold promotional campaign involving provocative billboards and imagery designed to prompt reflection on contemporary American identity. Despite being more polarizing than its predecessors, the album showcased Thirty Seconds to Mars’ willingness to challenge their fanbase and reinvent their sound.

Alongside their discography, the band has racked up numerous accolades. They’ve won multiple MTV Europe Music Awards, Kerrang! Awards, and received nominations from the American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. Their ability to blur the lines between rock, pop, and electronic music has kept them from being boxed into any one genre, a key reason they continue to thrive across such diverse listener demographics.

Outside of the studio and stage, Jared Leto has built a formidable acting career, earning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014 for his role in Dallas Buyers Club. He has portrayed prominent figures such as the Joker in Suicide Squad and Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci. His work in film complements the band’s theatrical ethos, often feeding into the visual dimension of their music. Shannon Leto, while more private, has explored entrepreneurial ventures including a coffee brand and photography exhibitions, expanding the band’s influence beyond just music.

Despite several lineup changes—most notably the departure of guitarist Tomo Miličević in 2018—the band continued as a duo. Their sixth studio album, It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day, was released in 2023 and marked yet another shift in tone. Stripped-down in comparison to their earlier work, the album explored themes of hope, decay, and resilience, reflecting a more introspective turn in their songwriting. Lead singles like “Stuck” and “Seasons” revealed a matured sonic palette rooted in minimalism and emotional clarity.

Thirty Seconds to Mars’ longevity can be attributed not just to their evolving sound but to their close relationship with their fans, known as the Echelon. Fan contributions have been woven into their artwork, music videos, and live performances, creating a sense of community that transcends traditional band-audience boundaries. Their music is often not just listened to—it’s experienced.

What began as a side project between two brothers has transformed into a global brand of artistry that encompasses music, film, fashion, and activism. Their career spans six full-length albums, each radically different from the last, and each tied together by their devotion to bold concepts and emotional honesty. As they continue touring and producing, Thirty Seconds to Mars remain one of the few bands whose trajectory defies convention, choosing reinvention over comfort, vision over repetition.