By Maxazine South Africa 
Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are too many to listen to, let alone review them. It ensures that too many albums are left behind. And that’s a shame. That is why we post an overview of albums that arrive at the editors in short reviews today.
Photo (c) Jorge Fakhouri Filho
And Then We Kiss… – Anthony Strong
If it was not yet clear from the cover photo, a few notes from the opening track ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ are enough to know that we are dealing with an old-fashioned crooner here. Although the best man made his debut back in 2009 and is a welcome guest in recording and TV studios in his home country England, Strong enjoys hardly any recognition outside the UK. This album should change that, and Strong does so with a proven recipe, namely with standards from the Great American Songbook and Broadway classics. Made famous by Sinatra, redefined as a genre by Bublé and now this ‘And Then We Kiss’ by Anthony Strong, accompanied by a solid orchestra. The whole thing goes through the ear canal like creamy butter, because it has to be said: Strong possesses a beautiful vocal tone, where it actually does not matter whether he performs Hammerstein II and Porter or recites a shopping list. Job well done, as they say. Only: he should have stuck to those standards. The crooner cover of the Chicago classic ‘If You Leave Me Now’, in duet with the French jazz singer Pamina Beroff, could have been left out. (Jeroen Mulder) (7/10) (Guaranteed! Records)
Finsterforst – Still
Finsterforst has existed for over 20 years. A passage from the press information reads: ‘Crushing heaviness meets expansive, cinematic atmospheres. Monumental arrangements carry both a sense of intimacy and grandeur within them’. That sounds promising! The diversity in vocals and music is already present in the opening track. Clean vocals, grunts and choir vocals are alternated, the instrumental combinations/turns are remarkable. The structure of the songs is good, but the contrasts between light/heavy, loud/soft could have been greater. The differences between intimacy and grandeur are therefore smaller than expected. In addition, the orchestral elements lack just the warmth needed to lift the whole thing to a higher level. Yet every song contains surprising elements. The relationship between rhythm and melody; and between metal and folk in for example ’Im Wind’ is beautiful. ‘Leere’ is a good epic lasting over 24 minutes! Followed by two (daring) covers. Finsterforst shows its own vastness within heavy metal, with its own way of mixing, reverb and sound effects. Although ‘Still’ may not meet all expectations, it is clear that the tracks have been composed with care. (Esther Kessel-Tamerus) (7/10) (AOP Records)
Chris Caffery – Pins And Needles
Chris Caffery is an American heavy metal guitarist and songwriter who is best known as the guitarist of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO). In 2004 he started his solo career with the album ‘Faces’. The albums ‘Pins And Needles’ and a few weeks later the debut ‘Faces’ are now being re-released by record company Metalville. When releasing old albums in a renewed re-issue, the coin can fall two ways. Either it is worthwhile for the fan to purchase it or the re-issue adds little or nothing to the original. In the case of ‘Pins And Needles’, the first is clearly the case. The original from 2007 has been out of print for years and is offered for sale on platforms such as Discogs for ridiculously high prices. With this re-issue, the general public can purchase this album again at an affordable price. Furthermore, the packaging and artwork have been adjusted and the 2026 version has been released as a CD-Digipak with adapted artwork. The biggest difference is the absence of the song ‘It’s S.A.D.’ The reason is that he wrote this song at the time about a specific negative situation in his life and did not want to relive it. Instead of ‘It’s S.A.D.’ there is a bonus track, namely an alternative version of ‘The Time’. (Ad Keepers) (8/10) (Metalville)
Ariana Grande – Petal
With ‘Petal’, Ariana Grande chooses an album in which refined pop and R&B come together again. The record follows her previous work in which personal themes, vocal versatility and carefully constructed productions were central. Grande does not focus on a major stylistic break, but on further developing a sound in which her voice plays the leading role. The songs move between intimate moments and spacious pop productions, with electronic elements and warm arrangements complementing each other. The strength of the album lies mainly in the way Grande manages to convey emotions subtly without the production demanding attention. The lyrics connect with themes such as change, self-reflection and relationships, making ‘Petal’ sound like a coherent whole. Sometimes the musical approach remains close to what Grande has shown before, meaning not every moment is equally surprising. Nevertheless, the album convinces through the strong vocals, the consistent production and the clear artistic direction. ‘Petal’ is a polished pop record that shows Ariana Grande still firmly holds her place within contemporary music. (William Brown) (8/10) (Republic Records)
Shaboozey – The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales
With ‘The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales’, Shaboozey presents an album in which country, hip hop and modern Americana come together within a clearly developed story. The record builds on the artist’s interest in combining different musical worlds, but this time deliberately chooses a cinematic atmosphere with influences from the western past. The production alternates guitars, rhythms and electronic details without the different styles getting in each other’s way. Shaboozey uses his characteristic voice to give the songs a relaxed yet distinctive quality. The album is not only about individual songs, but mainly about the coherence between the stories and the atmosphere that remains present throughout the entire record. The combination of traditional elements and contemporary influences creates a unique sound that remains recognisable. At some moments the execution could have been slightly sharper, causing some songs to linger less than the strongest moments. Nevertheless, ‘The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales’ is a convincing record in which Shaboozey further shapes his musical direction. (Daniel Harris) (8/10) (EMPIRE)
