MTV is the leader of the pack when it comes to promoting big corporate rock acts such as 1999's rock darlings Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and Korn. It is to no surprise that they deliver the heavy alt-rock compilation MTV's Return of the Rock, either. Detroit foul-mouthed rapper Kid Rock kicks things off with his typically lackluster gangsta rhyming on "F#@k That."

Pop kids adore it and appreciate his low-class wit. Heavy metal bad boy Tommy Lee gets electronic on Methods of Mayhem's strong alt-metal cut "Crash." Let the headbanger's ball begin.

Mainstream post-grungers such as System of a Down, Incubus, Sevendust, and Powerman 5000 also deliver signature modern metal thrash, but the northern California punk outfit Papa Roach stirs things up in the punk revival camp on "Infest." Mixing rap-metal sounds similar to Rage Against the Machine's Zach de la Rocha, Papa Roach is another group who fits the current musical mold of questionable angst. There are no surprises. [MTV The Return of the Rock was also released in a "clean" edition, containing no profanities or vulgarities.] ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide