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
Never Say Never
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling like an eagle in the storm
All I do is dream of you
I feel like a new born
Falling in love , falling in love
Forever I will sell my soul
[Chorus:]
I'll be forever in love
The way you move, the way you talk
Takes my breath away
I want to resist but this love exists
Deep in my heart you'll stay
Falling in love falling in love
Forever -I will sell my soul
[Chorus:]
Never say never Forever in love
I'll be forever in love
The lyrics to Axxis's song "Never Say Never" explore the theme of intense love and the feeling of being helplessly enamored with someone. The singer's love for this person is so strong that they feel like they are "head over heels" and "falling in love forever." The lyrics depict the singer as feeling like an "eagle in the storm" and like a "new born," which suggests that this love has made them feel more alive and vibrant.
The singer acknowledges that they cannot resist this love, and that it exists "deep in [their] heart." The lyrics also suggest that the singer is willing to give up everything for this love, even if that means "selling [their] soul." The chorus repeats the phrase "never say never" to emphasize the idea that their love is limitless and will last forever.
Overall, the lyrics to "Never Say Never" are a poignant and relatable exploration of the overwhelming feeling of falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Head over heels in love with you
I am deeply and completely in love with you.
Feeling like an eagle in the storm
I feel powerful yet vulnerable, high yet exposed, just like an eagle riding a storm.
All I do is dream of you
You are constantly on my mind and in my dreams.
I feel like a new born
You make me feel like I am born anew, fresh and innocent.
Falling in love , falling in love
I am falling more and more in love with you every day.
Forever I will sell my soul
I will give anything, even my soul, to be with you forever.
The way you move, the way you talk
I am entranced by the way you move and talk.
Takes my breath away
You are so breathtakingly beautiful that I feel my breath taken away.
I want to resist but this love exists
I try to fight this love, but it is too strong to ignore.
Deep in my heart you'll stay
You have a special place in my heart that can never be replaced.
Never say never Forever in love
I promise to love you forever, no matter what happens.
I'll be forever in love
My love for you will last forever.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNHARD WEISS, WALTER PIETSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yorcen
Perfect and powerful German Hard Rock!... Axxis one of the greats. This song was a huge worldwide hit back in late 80’s.
constantinos xenos
When epic love songs were a "must"!!!!!
Fantastic!!!!!still I fall in love.."never " is out of the question.....!!!!!
Roadhouse Blues
Never Say Never! A true word!