Get your motor running: Earlier this year, the MICREC recording company released the first Latviešu Auto Roks compilation of road music, covering the 1980s. Now the second in the series, Latviešu Auto Roks 90-tie, has dropped, the company announced Nov. 24.

The songs, the company announced, sound as if they were meant for a fast and energetic road trip—but that’s probably not a good idea given Latvia’s track record as having among Europe’s worst drivers.

The guitar rock band Līvi accounts for four of the tracks on the compact disc, while Tumsa and Linga each score two.

The 15 tracks on the album, with the performer noted in parentheses, include:

1. Nāc dejot (Linga)
2. Piedod man (Līvi)
3. Kad Mēness jūrā krīt (Jauns Mēness)
4. Zibens gaismā tavas acis laistās (Pērkons)
5. Neprāts (Tumsa)
6. Beng, beng (Alex)
7. Atdodies man (Linga)
8. Viva (Līvi)
9. Nāc ar mani (Melnā Princese)
10. Sex lai dzīvo (Opus Pro)
11. Kādā brīnišķā dienā (Līvi)
12. Dziļāk, dziļāk (Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi)
13. The Rebel Riders (Rebel)
14. Es karājos tavā bizē (Līvi)
15. Bums (Tumsa)

The first compilation, titled Latviešu Auto Roks 80-tie, was released in May and included tracks from Līvi, Jumprava, Credo, Pērkons, Rūsa, Vaidava and Opus Pro, as well as two songs from Monro and Neptūns that previously had not been released.

The unofficial anthem of the late 1980s National Awakening in Latvia was the moving “Manai tautai,” a song performed by Ieva Akuratere and penned by California-based Brigita Ritmane and her father, Andris Ritmanis. Now, two decades after the song rattled Soviet authorities in occupied Latvia, a group of young performers has recorded a new version.

The project to record a new version was led by Mārtiņš Otto, who assembled 11 performers for the song and video:  Intars Busulis, Artis Dvarionas, Goran Gora (real name Jānis Holšteins), Linda Leen (Linda Feldberga), Jānis Šipkēvics, Māra Holšteine Upmane, Martin Confused (Mārtiņš Dambis), Linda Ivanova, Evija Smagare, Andis Grīva and Ervīns Ramiņš.

The song calls on God to help reunite the Latvian people, who are scattered around the world. Akuratere first performed the song during the 1988 “Liepājas Dzintars” music festival. As Soviet authorities watched, the audience rose to its feet.

Akuratere, in an interview with Latvian State Television, noted that the call for unity remains relevant today.

The new version’s video, which begins with film of Akuratere performing the song, became available online on Nov. 18. Watch it on YouTube.

Not only can pagan metal band Skyforger kick out some growling tunes about Latvia’s history, but at least one of its members can cook up a mean dish of pork ribs.

A recipe by founding member Pēteris Kvetkovskis is among those included in Hellbent for Cooking: The Heavy Metal Cookbook. Compiled by chef Annick Giroux, the hardcover book contains more than 100 recipes from heavy metal bands in 30 countries.

A representative for New York-based publisher Bazillion Points told Latvians Online that Kvetkovskis offers a recipe for Latvian countryside ribs.

“It’s a hearty pork ribs recipe served with sautéed sauerkraut, baked potatoes, fresh dill, celery, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and good beer—Tērvetes, Bauskas, Užavas or Piebalgas,” the representative said in an e-mail.

The book includes recipes from a number of well-known metal bands, such as Sepultura, Kreator, Anthrax and Nuclear Assault. Although their names are far from appetizing, recipes also appear from bands such as Autopsy, Death, Dissection and Trench Hell. But if they’re anywhere as mouthwatering as Skyforger’s, then we’re game.

For more information about the book, visit www.hellbentforcooking.com.