Abbado's Verdi recordings are some of the finest available and this Requiem recording is no expection. Abbado takes a less ferocious approach than say Muti, or Barenboim, balancing the dramatic moments effectively against the more introspective aspects of the score. Ricciarelli is in fine form here, singing with a fine sense of line and intense emotional declamation. Her intonation is perfect. Verrett blends seamlessly with Ricciarelli, making the most of their duet and capturing the intense sadness of much of the writing quite well. Domingo, in his first recording of the part, provides a steady stream of golden tone, effortlessly produced. His emotional temperature runs about right here - not overly dramatic - after all, this is not Aida - but strong feelings kept on a tight rein. Ghiaurov is phenomenal. His gigantic bass somehow anchoring the entire quartet and chorus into an imposing yet gorgeous Verdian soundscape. There are many excellent Verdi Requiem recordings - this is surely one of the very best.

Poor Man Blues: Chicago Blues Session, Vol. 6 showcases the exceptional guitar skills of John Primer, who long served as a guitarist for Muddy Waters and Magic Slim. Primer falls somewhere between the two, turning out tough Chicago blues fueled by his biting slide guitar. His original songs aren't particularly interesting, but they function as good vehicles for exciting jams. In the end, Primer might not add anything new to Chicago blues, but he has a great time playing, and it sure is fun to listen to him play.

INCHIUVATU (Sicilian word for “nailed”) is Agghiastru’s one-man band which reveals a strong, dramatic and romantic component, along with a majestic atmosphere, close to symphonic black metal, which keyboards and pretty original folk melodies contribute emphasizing. The main themes of Inchiuvatu are sex, antichristianity and existential drama (Drama-Sex-Christ). To have an idea of how Inchiuvatu sounds like you should think about bands like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth, though with different attitude.

Latvian riflemen Skyforger can be considered as one of the instigators of pagan metal, and one of the first bands from the former Eastern block to get a stronghold in Western Europe, also because the band is one of the few with a distinguished own sound and some amazing live shows.