What Are You Listening To? Hard Rock and Nu-Metal is a multi-artist compilation released on Chordant Distribution Group in 2002, marketed and distributed in the EU by Kingsway Communications.
‘Hard Rock And Nu-Metal’ is not the sort of title that will ever win prizes for originality but then it was never the aim to do so. It’s part of a series called ‘What are you listening to?’ that aims to show people that Kingsway deals with a variety of musical styles and that every genre of music does have quality CCM artists. There are songs on this album, which range from the catchy pop rock style punk of Pax 217, Slick Shoes and Cadet, to the screaming passion of power bands such as Dead Poetic and Me Without You. Would the former be considered “hard” enough for this CD? In my opinion maybe not but it certainly is for the compilers of this good sampler CD. The tracks that stood out for me were ranging to both extremes: the fantastic musical arrangement of «Alone» (Slick Shoes); the passionate and well crafted «Yours» (tobyMac); the heartfelt obedience shown in «Fireproof» (Pillar) and a special mention must go out to «A Green Desire» – Dead Poetic managed to successfully shape a tune which is both melodic and extreme. The track’s savage screams are segued by sublimely melodic hooks. This sampler managed to achieve its main aim, to open my eyes to more artists in my favourite genre. [Greg Sammons, Cross Rhythms, January 2003]
CD tracklist:
01. tobyMac – Yours – 3:53 (from Momentum)
02. Skillet – Alien Youth – 4:10 (from Alien Youth)
03. Kutless – Again – 3:41 (from Kutless)
04. Pillar – Fireproof – 3:45 (from Fireproof)
05. Pax 217 – Tonight – 3:43 (from Engage)
06. Slick Shoes – Alone – 3:14 (from Slick Shoes)
07. Justifide – Change – 3:32 (from Life Outside the Toybox)
08. Strange Occurrence – Sunrise – 2:50 (from Another Day to Start Again)
09. Cadet – Nobody – 3:59 (from The Observatory)
10. mewithoutYou – Nice & Blue – 3:53 (from [A→B] Life)
11. Dead Poetic – A Green Desire – 3:27 (from Four Wall Blackmail)
12. Ace Troubleshooter – Madness Of The Crowds – 3:25 (from The Madness of The Crowds)
