Like many Hollywood actors these days, front man Jared Leto decided to leave the movie set for the recording studio. Unlike some of his less-than-talented peers who did the same, namely Lindsay Lohan and William Shatner, his vocal abilities don’t leave something to be desired. In 2002, Leto and his brother Shannon formed 30 Seconds to Mars, a rock band that displayed flashes of techno music to spice things up from the hackneyed musical platforms so many groups put forth today. Their debut record was remarkably engaging, with crisp vocals layered over fuzzy guitars and timely drumming. Now comes the age-old question: can the band live up to their first album, or will they surrender to the sophomore slump? Lucky for us, A Beautiful Lie is by and large a strong second outing, building on the ideas of their debut and taking their sound in new directions.

It took me awhile to warm up to the lead single, Attack. The band’s heaviest endeavor by far; it was quite a jolt to hear the changes from the first album. The verses are sharper, the chorus grander and more defined, and new guitarist Tomo Milicevic wields his guitar like a sledgehammer. It’s a package that’s hard to absorb at first, but one that is guaranteed to pull you in. Taking a page from Metallica’s book, with the title track landing in the second slot to keep the momentum going. A Beautiful Lie is a strong, bass driven entity featuring a cunning build up into the awe-inspiring chorus. Jared Leto really stretches his voice, showing that the three years in between recordings hasn’t taken a toll on his vocal prowess. An already rosy picture continues to hold up as the album charges forward.

The Kill is set to wage war on your ears, in a good way. The moody bridge offsets Leto’s harrowing screams and the determined riffing. The next track, Was It A Dream? hits all the right marks. The rainy intro gives it an atmospheric vibe, and Leto shows off his softer side. Shannon is a rock on the drum kit, always present but never dominating. Leto’s songwriting is equally strong, as seen here, “Is this the only evidence that proves/ A photograph of you and I/ Was it a dream?” Following that is The Fantasy, a marginal number that does some things well (chorus) and others not so well (the drawn out bridge). Equal helpings of good and bad ensue.

The sixth track, Savior, is a vigorous rocker, but gets docked points for excessive repetition. Still, the last minute or so is positively swimming in rage, with bristling riffs and drumming fast enough to make your head spin. From Yesterday is made out of the familiar rock mold, with slower verses giving way to a behemoth-like chorus. Lyrically there’s not much going on here, with Leto describing his weary travels across the world. The first song on the album not worthy of repeated listens. The Story burns slowly, and doesn’t require a huge chorus to pick it up, another sign of a band maturing. Leto is quiet and introspective, singing over a steady drumbeat and Matt Wachter’s grumbling bass, which oozes out from time to time to keep the song grounded in ambiance. With all the quality material so far, it’s refreshing to see that the band keeps a couple gems for the album’s conclusion.

One such gem is R-Evolve, which is adventurous and confident, showcasing Leto’s upper range and Shannon’s considerable skill with the sticks. A Modern Myth takes the really soft path, with a gently-plucked acoustic guitar and an unexpected string section adding some flavor as well. Even with all it has going for it, Leto doesn’t have much to say, and it’s much too short when sized up with the songs around it. Two bonus tracks are tacked on at the end. The first, originally pegged as the album’s title track, Battle of One is a raucous affair with one of the better crescendos I’ve heard solidifying the bridge. Hunter is a puzzling entry, with some sporadic techno effects and sub par vocals. Early on it looks to be building into something more, but it just continues its dreary course. The band apparently recorded forty songs, and this was one of the twelve that made the cut?

While 30 Seconds to Mars’ latest album won’t overwhelm you with eight-minute songs or slick guitar solos, if a solid rock album is what you’re after, then A Beautiful Lie delivers. Considering the lack of solid rock albums floating around these days, this may be a very good purchase. Jared Leto’s transition from movie stardom to fronting a band looks effortless, as his lyrics and vocals are of generally high caliber. For those keeping score at home, there are nine good to great tracks and only three stinkers on the album, which makes it a pretty safe investment. Thirty Seconds to Mars simultaneously avoid the sophomore jinx and put out an album that takes the best elements of their debut and ratchets up the intensity to the next level. A Beautiful Lie is well worth buying.

Final Rating: 3.5 Stars

Recommended: Yes