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
Hide Away
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The shadows walk on ice
I will float down silently
Like a soul in flight
Bringing you my gift tonight
Put in words of love
Kisses like the coldest night
I was exiled to my dyin'
Captured by a spell
Mourning keeps my spirit flyin'
Out of my cold cell
'Cross the field of separation
To the house of pain
Slippin' through the bedroom window
Next to you again
So now you know,you can't hide away
I come and go, there's no hide away
So now you know, you can't hide away
I come and go, there's no hide away
I come and go
When the twilight promises
A new day to begin
You'll find my place beside you
Is cold again
You may feel an other's touch
But in your soul and heart
I'll keep stayin' for all time
As long as we're apart
So now you Know, you can't hide away
I come and go, there's no hide away
So now you know, you can't hide away
I come and go, there's no hide away
I come and go
The song "Hide Away" by Axxis explores the theme of unrequited love and the pain of separation. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to be with their loved one, even if only briefly, and their willingness to endure the pain of being apart. The opening lines, "Like a black bird in the night, the shadows walk on ice," set a mood of darkness and uncertainty, emphasizing the difficulty of the singer's journey to be with their loved one.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer speaks of their "gift" of love, which is expressed through "words of love" and "kisses like the coldest night." This language suggests that the singer's love is intense and perhaps even difficult to bear, as if it is a burden to them as well as a source of joy. The use of the phrase "cross the field of separation" underscores the distance between the singer and their loved one, and the verse "You may feel an other's touch, but in your soul and heart, I'll keep stayin' for all time, as long as we're apart" highlights the singer's steadfast commitment to their love despite not being able to physically be with the other person.
Ultimately, the chorus of the song, "So now you know, you can't hide away, I come and go, there's no hide away," conveys the sense that the singer will always be there, waiting and searching for ways to be with their loved one. The use of repetition in this chorus emphasizes the idea that there can be no true hiding away from love, and that the singer will continue to seek out connections with their beloved even in the face of separation and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a black bird in the night
I move quietly and cautiously through the darkness.
The shadows walk on ice
My movements are calculated and deliberate.
I will float down silently
I will approach you without making any noise.
Like a soul in flight
I glide towards you with a sense of purpose.
Bringing you my gift tonight
I have something to give you, a token of my affection.
Put in words of love
I give you something that expresses my love for you.
Kisses like the coldest night
My kisses are both chilling and passionate.
Come from high above
My love for you is pure and transcendent.
I was exiled to my dying'
I was banished, cut off from the world I once knew.
Captured by a spell
I was entranced, captured by the power of my love for you.
Mourning keeps my spirit flyin'
My grief gives me strength to keep moving forward.
Out of my cold cell
I am free from the confines of my isolation.
'Cross the field of separation
I have crossed a great distance to be with you.
To the house of pain
You and I share a history of hurt and loss.
Slippin' through the bedroom window
I sneak into your room, trying to avoid detection.
Next to you again
I am by your side once more.
When the twilight promises
As the day turns to night, I am drawn to you.
A new day to begin
Every day presents the opportunity to start anew.
You'll find my place beside you
I will be there for you, always by your side.
Is cold again
But my presence offers no warmth or comfort.
You may feel an other's touch
You may be with someone else, but I still hold a place in your heart and soul.
But in your soul and heart
My love for you runs deep, and nothing can change that.
I'll keep stayin' for all time
I will love you forever, no matter what happens.
As long as we're apart
Even though we are apart, my love for you endures.
So now you know, you can't hide away
I will always find you, no matter where you try to hide.
I come and go, there's no hide away
I will continue to be a part of your life, whether you want me to or not.
I come and go
My love for you is enduring, and I will always be around.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC MALTBY MCCUSKER, JAKE EDWARD MASON, ROBERT MASON, HARALD OELLERS, WALTER PIETSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind