乐队的首张同名专辑《30 Seconds to Mars》于2002年8月面世，摇滚界资深音乐制作人Bob Ezrin参与了专辑的制作并给予极高的评价。音乐风格偏重前卫金属、嘶吼情绪摇滚，专辑两首主打单曲 Capricorn (A Brand New Name) 和 Edge of the Earth使乐队大红大紫，并在告示牌（Billboard200）达到第107位保持了四周 。这张专辑歌词侧重于人的奋斗和天文相关的主题，这张专辑获得了普遍的积极评价与认可。其中主打歌曲Edge of the Earth于2010年被美国艺电游戏公司选中并作为其竞速游戏新作《极品飞车14：热力追踪3》的游戏主题曲，并且乐队配合游戏的发售还拍摄了穿插游戏画面的主题MV。
为了宣传专辑，乐队于2002年11月开始在北美和英国进行巡回演出，2004年2月21日，乐队在洛杉矶举办了三场音乐会，反响强烈。
30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by the American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, released on August 27, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002. 30 Seconds to Mars is a concept album that focuses on human struggle and self-determination, with personal lyrics that sometimes use otherworldly elements and conceptual ideas to illustrate a truthful personal situation.
Upon its release in August 2002, 30 Seconds to Mars reached number 107 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top Heatseekers. The album received generally positive reviews, many of which compared 30 Seconds to Mars to Pink Floyd, Tool, and Brian Eno. The album produced two singles, "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)" and "Edge of the Earth"; the former peaked at number 31 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. 30 Seconds to Mars promoted the album by opening concerts for bands such as Puddle of Mudd, Incubus, Sevendust, and Chevelle.
Following the release of this album, 30 Seconds to Mars music differs notably from it, both musically and lyrically. Whereas this concept album's lyrics focus on human struggle and astronomical themes, A Beautiful Lie's lyrics are more personal and the music introduces intense screaming vocals and synth effects.