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
Moonlight
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a million diamonds that are twinkling in the night
And the moon is watching out for me in the space
Staring down at me and he's smiling in my face
Tonight my soul is just a part of the whole
I'm one with the universe
I'm falling in trance, he's got this magic dance
Moonlight
Moonlight - I'm walking in the moonshine
In trance I'm feeling alright
Sleepwalking every night
Moonlight - I'm dancing in the moonshine
The full moon makes me feel right
My dreams are sent by the moonlight
I'm longing for the night that's embracing mother Earth
I'm just a tiny little wheel in the clockwork universe
Oh I have more (...) I sleep with open eyes it is a mistake of my life
In the shires of the night I feel the mighty moonlight
Moonlight
Moonlight - I'm walking in the moonshine
In trance I'm feeling alright
Sleepwalking every night
Moonlight - I'm dancing in the moonshine
The full moon makes me feel right
My dreams are sent by the moonlight
Moonlight - I'm walking in the moonshine
In trance I'm feeling alright
Sleepwalking every night
Every night
Moonlight
Moonlight
The lyrics to Axxis's "Moonlight" paint a vivid picture of the beauty and magic of the night sky. The song begins by describing the wondrous sight of the stars and the moon shining down on the world below. The singer feels a powerful connection to the universe and the moon in particular, as if it is watching over and smiling upon them. As they fall into a trance, they are fully immersed in the unique energy and magic of the moonlight.
Throughout the song, the language and imagery reflect a sense of enchantment and spiritual connection. The singer describes themselves as "one with the universe," and the moonlight itself has a mystical power that can influence their dreams and even their waking life. The repeated refrain of "Moonlight - I'm walking in the moonshine" underscores the sense of being caught up in something larger than oneself, and the idea of sleepwalking implies a sense of surrender to the power of the night.
Overall, "Moonlight" can be interpreted as a celebration of the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and an acknowledgement of the profound impact it can have on the human soul.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun goes down and the stars are shining bright
The start of the night when the sun sets and the stars appear.
Like a million diamonds that are twinkling in the night
The stars shimmering and shining like diamonds in the dark of the night.
And the moon is watching out for me in the space
The moon being present and visible, seeming to watch over the singer in space.
Staring down at me and he's smiling in my face
The moon appearing to look directly at the artist and having a friendly or welcoming appearance.
Tonight my soul is just a part of the whole
The artist feeling connected and integrated into the wider universe.
I'm one with the universe
The singer feeling unified and in harmony with the whole universe.
I'm falling in trance, he's got this magic dance
The singer being entranced by the moon's movements and feeling as though it is performing a magical dance.
In the moonlight
The setting for the artist's experience and connection with the wider universe - the light of the moon.
Moonlight - I'm walking in the moonshine
The artist is walking or moving through the moonlight and feeling a sense of connection with the universe.
In trance I'm feeling alright
The artist feeling a sense of contentment and wellbeing while in a trance-like state in the moonlight.
Sleepwalking every night
The singer experiencing a sense of hypnotic sleepwalking or moving through life without being fully aware.
The full moon makes me feel right
The artist feeling as though the presence of the full moon is perfect and completes them or their experience.
My dreams are sent by the moonlight
The singer feeling as though the moon or the moonlight has a spiritual effect on their dreams or their sense of inner self.
I'm longing for the night that's embracing mother Earth
The singer feeling a sense of longing or desire for the nighttime, which they view as a nurturing or mothering presence.
I'm just a tiny little wheel in the clockwork universe
The singer recognizing their own small and insignificant place within the greater structure and workings of the universe.
Oh I have more (...) I sleep with open eyes it is a mistake of my life
Partial lyrics - unable to interpret this line due to missing context.
In the shires of the night I feel the mighty moonlight
The artist feeling the power and might of the moonlight in the dark of the night.
Every night
A general statement or observation about the repetitive nature of the singer's experience in the moonlight.
Moonlight
A repeated invocation of the importance and significance of the moonlight in the singer's experience and sense of connection with the wider universe.
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Miguel Primo
Como vieja escuela pero mas renovada y fresca!
Buenisimo !👍
Miguel Primo
Me gusta esta banda!