 30 Seconds to Mars is a concept album focusing on human struggle and self @-@ determination . It deals with characters who battle with social alienation , emotional isolation , and political malaise . The title itself " 30 Seconds to Mars " indicates the accelerated human society and suggests a potential escapism from it . The album 's lyrics describe the personal human experience through the use of metaphors and moments of fantasy . Jared Leto regarded it as a " very personal album that sometimes uses otherworldly elements and conceptual ideas to illustrate a truthful personal situation " . He cited the human struggle as the most inspiring source for the band and explained that the record features " a definite desire for change , for renewal , for a new beginning and ultimately , for escape " . Author Karin <unk> commented that Leto , who wrote most of the lyrics , allows the listener to draw his or her own conclusions to the meanings of the songs . She noted that " this makes the music especially personal , as whatever images you conjure from the sound and words can be interpreted by your own inner language " . 
