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
ECSTASY
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel your teeth upon my neck
I am in ecstasy
You blow my mind, heat me up
Take my spirit to the top, so high
I am in ecstasy
We fly... Till we die
We fly... Till we die
More than more is not enough
I need your mind expanding stuff
To fly...to fly
All my strength, down the drain
No escape, I tried in vain
I am in ecstasy
[Chorus]
In your hand, helplessly
Sweat and blood, I cannot flee
On my skin, sweetest pain
A million needles like burning rain
[Chorus]
Axxis's song Ecstasy is a sensual rock song that depicts the feeling of being in ecstasy with a lover. The lead singer describes the sensation of his lover's touch through metaphors such as "you drag your nails across my back" and "I can feel your teeth upon my neck." The pleasure that the singer is experiencing is so intense that he describes losing all his strength and being unable to escape. The chorus of the song says "we fly...till we die," highlighting the intense feelings of pleasure and the desire for it to last forever.
The second verse of the song describes the need for more of this mind-expanding experience, as "more than more is not enough." The experience is described as taking the singer's spirit to the top and making him feel as though he is flying. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the eternal nature of this experience, and it is evident that the singer is fully devoted to this feeling.
Overall, Axxis's song Ecstasy is a passionate homage to intense physical pleasure and the desire to experience it repeatedly. The use of poetic metaphors creates an air of mystery and sensuality, making the listener feel as though they understand the feelings of the singer. The song's lyrics are written to stimulate the imagination and evoke intense emotions of passion and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
You drag your nails across my back
You are physically intimate with me, causing me to feel intense pleasure and sensation.
I can feel your teeth upon my neck
Your intense passion and desire is evident as you leave marks on my body.
I am in ecstasy
I am experiencing overwhelming pleasure and euphoria from this intimate moment with you.
You blow my mind, heat me up
You are arousing and exciting me to the point of feeling overwhelmed with passion and desire.
Take my spirit to the top, so high
You are elevating my emotions and feelings to their highest level, sending me into an almost trance-like state.
I am in ecstasy
I am experiencing overwhelming pleasure and euphoria from this intimate moment with you.
[Chorus]
Repeating the phrase 'We fly...Till we die' emphasizes the intensity and passion of this intimate moment.
More than more is not enough
I need all of you and your passion, as anything less than complete fulfillment is not enough.
I need your mind expanding stuff
I crave your intense passion and experience of pleasure, to the point of transcending normal physical pleasure.
To fly...to fly
The use of 'fly' as a metaphor for this intense emotional experience emphasizes how it elevates the individuals involved.
All my strength, down the drain
This experience is so overwhelming that it takes all of one's physical and emotional energy to endure.
No escape, I tried in vain
Even if one wanted to resist this experience, it is too intense and all-consuming to escape or avoid.
I am in ecstasy
I am experiencing overwhelming pleasure and euphoria from this intimate moment with you.
[Chorus]
Repeating the phrase 'We fly...Till we die' emphasizes the intensity and passion of this intimate moment.
In your hand, helplessly
Being in your control and at your mercy causes me to feel vulnerable, yet incredibly aroused and excited.
Sweat and blood, I cannot flee
The intensity of this moment takes a physical toll on my body, yet I am too overcome with passion to leave or resist.
On my skin, sweetest pain
The physical sensations of this intimate experience, even those that could be painful, are enjoyable and euphoric to me.
A million needles like burning rain
The intensity of the physical sensations, even those that could be painful or overwhelming, are still enjoyable and pleasurable to me.
[Chorus]
Repeating the phrase 'We fly...Till we die' emphasizes the intensity and passion of this intimate moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind