Johnnie Moore is the Vice President and campus pastor of Liberty University, and in this book he has set out to inspire with his challenge to Christians to live out fully what they say they believe. It's a fascinating read as he travels from the home of the Dalai Lama to a mass grave of more than 250,000 people in Rwanda. He questions why so many Christians live a life of hypocrisy and points the way to living fuller, richer lives. Essential.

Vavara, a Polish orphan girl, is brought into service Empress Elizabeth's court in St Petersburg. She is trained up in the arts of espionage and intrigue, she is set to spy on the Prussian princess, Sophia, who is destined to become Catherine the Great. It's a really enjoyable story, with rich and vibrant characters. Now, quite how much of Catherine the Greats young life is true, doesn't really matter, as the life of a dangerous court in a complicated country, is just irresistible. A really enjoyable read.

With more and more people looking into their family history, more and more authors are trying to get their share of the beginners market. And this one is definitely near the top of the pile. It takes you the basics, as there aren't really that many shortcuts when it comes to establishing facts, holds your hand through investigating official records, and goes on to look at computer tools for helping you on your way. However, folks from the UK who don't live in England should approach with caution as it is very Anglo-centric. Regardless, the basics are laid out well, and it's well worth a read.

A man decides one day, whilst out to post a letter, to keep walking away from his life. So far, so Reggie Perrin. It then turns into a road movie, albeit a peculiarly English one, as clad only in his deck-shoes, Harold Fry decides to walk from Devon to Berwick-upon Tweed. It's beautifully written and rich in story, as he meets an array of people, some of whom seem to know the secret of life. A wee gem, humourous and sad in equal measure, and highly recommended.

In case you hadn't noticed, and ex-Beatles has put out a new album. And, no, it's not the ex-bass player, it's the ex-drummer. Yes, indeed, Ringo Starr has just released his seventeenth solo album (really), and as befits a man in his seventies, it's got nine tracks, and would easily fit on two sides of vinyl. So, a small smattering of applause, even before it's been played.

It's a Ringo album that could have come from any point in time, but specifically, the "Ringo", "Goodnight Vienna", "Ringo's Rotogravure" years. Which means it's amiable seventies soft rock, with a smattering of country, blues and rock'n'roll splashed about hither and thither. To this end, he's played the Ringo card, and called up a whole bunch of well known musos to make sure that, at the very least, it's well performed. So say hallo to the likes of Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dave Stewart, Don Was, Van Dyke Parks and Edgar Winter.

With the exception of a run through the Buddy Holly tune 'Think It Over' and the good old Trad Arr 'Rock Island Line', it's all Ringo co-written, with some big time writers along for the ride. So, Glen Ballard, Van Dyke Parks, Dave Stewart and Joe Walsh pop up amongst the credits. For some reason he's seen fit to revisit two of his old songs in the shape of 'Wings', which first appeared on "Ringo the 4th" in 1977 and 'Step Lightly' from "Ringo" in 1973. Which actually cuts it down to five new songs.

Apart from 'In Liverpool', an appalling piece of doggerel, there isn't anything to actively dislike here. It's all smiley, smiley, matey, matey, no frills seventies rock, with the only real standout, his cover of 'Rock Island Line', which has a life and vigour lacking elsewhere. The lyrics are what you would expect from a peace sign giving tax exile, and his voice still has a nasally charm. Maybe he should go all the way, and link up with The Jive Aces, to make his eighteenth album a skiffle one! Get Joe Brown in, and I'd be buying it.

Now, you should all know that The Jive Aces are the finest jump, jive n' wailin' band doing the rounds these days. Well, they started inserting a skiffle interlude into their live set, something that has gone down so well, that they've taken themselves into the studio to record a skiffle EP! And it's mighty fine too. There's an intro by skiffle king, Chas McDevitt, and 18 year old Lil' Miss Hayley appears on 'Mr Sandman', showing one and all that it's not just old timers who know how to swing.

Things kick off with a rattling good version of the Trad Arr via Hank Thompson 'Mama Don't Allow', followed bu an original 'Ukelele Swing'. Then we're off into a tune I first heard courtesy of the Grateful Dead. Which just goes to show you how wide a musical world we live in. And it's 'I'm Satisfied With My Gal', a tune that dates back to the twenties. Next up is the aforementioned 'Mr Sandman', and a great version it is too, before things draw to a close with a surprising, yet fabulous' version of 'Get Me To The Church On Time' from "My Fair Lady".

I doubt this will be the record to rescue skiffle from a bygone era, but, bloomin' heck, if it isn't one of the most energising records I've heard in a long time.

What the world needs now is not, love, love, love. Nope, we've tried that and it didnae work. Now, what the world needs is a new Polish symphonic power metal band. And here they are! Pathfinder! Hopefully named after the awesome film of the same name. Regardless, here they are, having a darned good go at the whole f Rhapsody of Fire / Dragonforce genre, and thinking "I'll have me a piece of that". And they're rather good.

Naturally, this is a genre where you have to switch a lot of your faculties off, as you await the arrival of 'The Lord Of Wolves', but once that's done, it's a rerr wee treat. They've got the fancy schmancy keyboard bits, the Iron Maiden riffs, the screaming guitar solos and the quasi-operatic vocals. Job done. There's even some good tunes, with the likes of 'Pathway to the Moon', 'The Whisper of Ancient Rocks', and 'Sons Of Immortal Fire' doing their symphonic power metal bit, very well indeed.

So it's a smattering of applause for Simon Kostro (vocals), Slavomir Belak (keyboards), Arkadiusz E. Ruth (bass), Karol Mania (guitars), Gunsen (guitars), and Kamil Ruth (drums). For a band who did all this themselves without the help of a record company, it's a fine achievement, as the production and presentation is good enough to stand up to, and stand out from a lot of people further up the power metal chain than they are.

If you've been looking for a new Stratovarius in your life, then I would certainly recommend trying out a bit of Pathfinder. I doubt you'll have many regrets.

OK, I'll grant you, it took me a wee while to get over the fact that they're named after a place in a Tolkein book, and that their drummer is called James Last. Actually, I still haven't got over that, but I can shove it to one side, whilst sneaking a sidelong look for Bri-Nylon trouser suits. And it's my loss, because this is a stonking piece of prog metal. This is the album that Opeth have never made, and a record that would blow their fans completely out of the water. Really, I'm not making it up.

I've never heard their debut, "Escaping The Abyss", and I kind of don't want to, just in case it tarnishes this record in some way. Maybe it's meant to stand alone as some kind of future forgotten masterpiece, spoken about in hushed tones, when gentlemen of a certain age gather together to quaff ale, and reminisce about the old days. Then someone will say "do you remember Fornost Amor", and to a man, they'll silently toast a memory of what might have been.

Now I'm not dissing Opeth, just because they've gone girly. They will always be held up as a shining beacon of 21st century prog metal, but there is something extra special about this. 'Rogue', the opening track is an astonishing piece of music that covers all aspects of light and shade, with some fantastic vocal interplay from the guesting Elle Torry. Elsewhere, the Middle Eastern tinges of "The Death Of a Rose (Parts I and II)" and the proggiest of all the tracks, 'Farewell', are absolutely delightful.

The production is top notch, the performances are excellent, and even though it's not the most original approach to prog metal, the music is just amazing.

I still think of prog metallers Evergrey as a new band, but it's seventeen years since they formed and fourteen years since their debut album came out. It must be that thing where all doctors and policeman look to be about twelve years old after you reach a certain age. Somehow seventeen plus fourteen divided by two means it's time for "A Decade And A Half" after eight previous studio albums and a live 'un.

They're officially Big In Sweden with all their records hitting the Top 20, and their DVD going to number one, but for some reason they seem to bouncing off a glass ceiling everywhere else in the world. Maybe it's their ever changing line-up, maybe it's the prog metal overload that we've had over the last decade or so, but this release may be a good way for folks to catch up on their doings, if they've missed all their previous. Or Steamhammer are losing faith.

Whatever, you're getting a double album, at a decent price, which has 24 songs, including two previously unreleased live tracks (boo!) and a 24 page booklet with the previously unreleased tracks being `Wrong' and `Frozen', both (live and unplugged), and guaranteed to annoy the hell out of the Evergrey diehards who have all the other records. It touches on all aspects of their career to date, with the tunes from "A Night To Remember", still the best in my less than humble opinion. Their prog metal falls firmly on the metal side of the equation, so there's plenty of fiery riffs and stomping rhythms to keep the air guitar hordes happy, but enough intricacies to keep progsters listening.

There probably aren't many mad for it melodic prog-metallers out there who haven't encountered them live somewhere down the line, what with their tours with the likes of In Flames, Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom, Kamelot and Iced Earth. And if they haven't bought any Evergrey records, then this is a good place to start.

What did I say about their "Outbreak" EP? Oh, yes. "Pummelling old school death metal from Belfast, Zombified ... rattle and clatter their way through the five tracks in a manner befitting Cannibal Corpse at their best." Blimey, that sounds good [slaps on "Backroom Eugenics"]. Oof!

Now I'm a fan of eugenics. Problem is, if it was in force, there isn't a hope in hell that either Zombified or I would be around to a ) grind out death metal, or b ) write about Zombified grinding out death metal. So, some fine tuning is probably in order before we head down that road. Back to "Backroom Eugenics" and, if anything, this is even better than "Outbreak". Which is Kerrangamazing. They must be getting more comfortable in the studio, as the sound on this mini album is quite remarkable for a wee indie offering.

They've also acquired a nastier edge, which helps bring the best tracks like 'Limb After Limb' and 'The Forgotten Act Of Strangulation' to life (death?). So, if you're looking for a band that combines the worst excesses of Cannibal Corpse, Slayer and Obituary, then point yourself towards Northern Ireland get yourself Zombified.