This album was a big turning point in the career of this five-piece band. Produced by Joey Balin and recorded in Philadelphia, it was the first international production by AXXIS.
In the following years AXXIS had traveled thousands of miles. One if the most impressive destinations was Japan, where Bernhard Weiss and guitarist Walter Pietsch performed a couple of acoustic live shows due to the release of the Japanese only CD "Profile". The band became known worldwide!
The album "Matters Of Survival" was produced in Los Angeles in 1995, the city of angels which is uncritically praised as a Metal capitol by some, a city where glamor, violence and homelessness live together very closely. An impression, which was responsible for the choice of the album title.
With Keith Olsen (FLEETWOOD MAC, WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER, SCORPIONS) the band had a producer who had already worked in the biz since 25 years. Olsen had visited the band in Germany first and both together chose the 12 best songs from the original 30 demo tracks and committed the arrangements. Afterwords they flew over to Los Angeles where Olsen is running his Goodnight L.A.-Studio.
AXXIS especially see themselves as a live band. At a perfect gig, as Bernhard Weiss once said, the own hands have to glow. "It is the best possibility to play your music", says Weiss, "already alone because of the chance of getting so close to your fans." So, the performances at "Rock am Ring" in front of 30 000 spectators were for sure important highlights of the years 1994 and 1996!
To keep on moving into new directions was a principle which this Hard Rock band from the "Ruhrgebiet" had always followed. If you have a look on “Kingdom Of The Night” (`89), “Axxis II” (`91), “The Big Thrill “(`93), “Matters Of Survival” (`95) or “Voodoo Vibes” (97), the latest album by the band, they had always avoided to repeat themselves.
AXXIS do, of course, have their basic sound, their roots are lying within the traditional Heavy Rock of the 70's and 80's, they have found their very own style which is orientated on hooks like "Living In A World". This song is still regarded as a hymn at every show and, as Walter says, the best example for a typical AXXIS song. Bernard's unique vocal style is another characteristic trademark, which makes AXXIS' sound unique. But the cover on these basics is very different anytime. The permanent move can be found within the details.
AXXIS' major ambition is, as Walter adds, "to be a pure Rock 'n' Roll band", and to wash away any doubt, “Voodoo Vibes” became the most Rockin' album since the very early days. The heavy guitars remind the listener a lot on the intensive “Punch” of the debut album.
The production this time was done by the band itself for the very first time. After those great lessons in the US by highly skilled producers, AXXIS felt strong enough to handle the complex studio technics alone and to take over the responsibility for it themselves. "The idea for this was invented by our label", says Harry. "We had already produced our demos for a long time before. And as we presented our new demo tapes to our A&R manager, he was not only convinced by the quality of our new material but of the sound of this supposedly rehearsal room recordings as well. He told us to put it on the album as it was. But the songs and especially the vocals weren't completed yet at the time and that was the reason why the idea came up to let us mix it up ourselves. Because of our demos our label gained a lot of confidence in our abilities to produce an album."
Confidence which was confirmed. “Voodoo Vibes”, produced by Bemhard, Walter and Harry with the help of co-producer and engineer Thomas Kemper at Dierks Studios in the outskirts of Cologne, offers a straight and powerful sound from the beginning to the end which couldn't had been done better by an American star producer. The fact that those complete recordings were finished after only 18 days in the studio is a proof for the band's reliability, who according to Walter, "had a little fear to do the job right in the beginning. The band had to deal with new aspects like being responsible for a recording budget and to be judged for anything that might have gone wrong. But finally everything worked perfectly" and it worked so well that AXXIS would like to repeat it again when starting to record the next album. This self-determination will not be missed in the future anymore...
Current Line-Up:
Bernhard Weiß – Vocal
Harry Oellers – Keys
Marco Wriedt – Guitar
Rob Schomaker – Bass
André Hilgers - Drums
Previous members:
Kosta Zafiriou – Drums (on “Time Machine“)
Richard Michalski – Drums (on “Kingdom Of The Night”, “Axxis II”, “Access All Areas”, “The Big Thrill”, “Profile-The Best of Axxis”, “Matters of Survival”, “Voodoo Vibes”, “Sarajevo Exklusiv”, “Back To The Kingdom“, “Collection Of Power” & “Eyes Of Darkness”)
Walter Pietsch – Guitars (on “Kingdom Of The Night”, “Axxis II”, “Access All Areas”, “The Big Thrill”, “Profile-The Best of Axxis”, “Matters of Survival”, “Voodoo Vibes” & “Sarajevo Exklusiv”)
Markus Gfeller – Bass (on “The Big Thrill”, “Profile-The Best of Axxis”, “Matters of Survival”, “Voodoo Vibes” & “Sarajevo Exklusiv”)
Werner Kleinhans – Bass (on “Kingdom Of The Night”, “Axxis II” & “Access All Areas”)
The official site:
http://www.axxis.de
History (english):
http://www.axxis.de/eng_history.html
C'est La Vie
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holding out his trembling hand
His dark eyes looked through a blanket
Wrapped in junk - out in the cold
Late at night we passed that alley
On our way down to the zoo
Life goes on without pity
Is there a healing for a world almost dead?
Is there a healing for a world ravin' mad?
C'est la vie
Someone knocked somebody out
Drew a gun to take a life
In that game - a vicious circle
Losers die - winners survive
C'est la vie
Is there a healing for a world almost dead?
Is there a healing for a world ravin' mad?
C'est la vie
C'est la vie
The lyrics to Axxis's song C'Est La Vie depict the harsh realities of life in New York City. The first verse introduces an elderly man sitting in a dark alleyway, with his trembling hand outstretched, begging for help. His eyes are described as looking through a blanket, implying a feeling of disconnect from society. The lyrics then switch to the perspective of the singer, who passes by the alleyway late at night on the way to the zoo. The imagery of life going on "without pity" on the streets of the city highlights the sense of hopelessness and indifference that can pervade urban life.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of violence and desperation. It describes a scenario of someone being knocked out and a gun being drawn to take a life within a "vicious circle" of a game where losers die and winners survive. The repeated refrain of "C'est la vie" serves as a resignation to the harsh realities of life, a recognition that sometimes there are no easy answers or solutions to the problems that afflict society.
Overall, Axxis's song C'Est La Vie offers a glimpse into the struggles of life in a large city, where poverty, violence, and desperation can be constant companions. The lyrics highlight the harsh realities of life for those who are in need, and the sense of hopelessness that can pervade urban existence.
Line by Line Meaning
An old man sat in the dark alley
There was an elderly man who was sitting in a gloomy alley.
Holding out his trembling hand
The old man was extending his shaking hand as if requesting for something.
His dark eyes looked through a blanket
The man's eyes could be seen through his shawl.
Wrapped in junk - out in the cold
The old man was covered in rugged attire and was exposed to the frosty weather.
Late at night we passed that alley
When we crossed through the alley it was quite dark.
On our way down to the zoo
We were headed to the zoo at that time of the night.
Life goes on without pity
The hardships of life continue relentlessly without regard for individuals' difficulties.
On the streets of New York city
This incident happened in the busy streets of New York City.
Someone knocked somebody out
An individual knocked another person unconscious.
Drew a gun to take a life
To take someone's life, the person brandished a weapon callously.
In that game - a vicious circle
This violent act was part of a cycle of cruelty that keeps escalating.
Losers die - winners survive
In this contest, the people who are defeated lose their lives and the winners live on by enduring their cruelty.
Is there a healing for a world almost dead?
Will some remedy be available for this broken world close to its end?
Is there a healing for a world ravin' mad?
Can there be any solution for this world that is going insane?
C'est la vie
That's life.
C'est la vie
That's life.
Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@diegofernandoavilavalencia7105
One of my fav Axxis songs...
An old man sat in the dark alley
Holding out his trembling hand
His dark eyes looked through a blanket
Wrapped in junk - out in the cold
Late at night we passed that alley
On our way down to the zoo
Life goes on without pity
On the streets of New York city
Is there a healing for a world almost dead?
Is there a healing for a world ravin' mad?
C'est la vie
Someone knocked somebody out
Drew a gun to take a life
In that game - a vicious circle
Losers die - winners survive
C'est la vie
Is there a healing for a world almost dead?
Is there a healing for a world ravin' mad?
C'est la vie
C'est la vie
Taken from MetroLyrics
@ludovanlent9578
damn first time i got to know axxis, live on headbangersballs. still lovingaxxis. Rock on