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
Underworld
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Running, running - when the days fade into night
And I will find the hidden gate, I'm longing for so long
I will never know if I will enter or may die!
Down in the - underworld life and underworld dream
A mirror shadow of what I be
Underworld love and underworld gleam
Don't let me go astray on my way to you...my way to you!
Riding, riding - riding on the wings of death
Hear them - calling - bear my name, and seal my fate
I see my life - a battlefield - the future and the past
The secret candle you have lit - will burn my soul at last!
Down in the - underworld life and underworld dream
A mirror shadow of what I be
Underworld love and underworld gleam
Don't let me go astray on my way to you!
Shadows - gimme shelter! Let me hide myself tonight!
Down in the - underworld life and underworld dream
A mirror shadow of what I be
Underworld life and underworld dream
A mirror shadow of what I be
Underworld love and underworld gleam
Don't let me go astray on my way... to you!
Shadows - gimme shelter! Let me hide myself tonight!!
The song "Underworld" by Axxis talks about the singer's journey to the underworld, which is the place where they hope to find the love and light that they seek. The song begins with the singer questioning whether they should try to reach the distant light, which is beyond the fading night. The singer has been longing for a hidden gate for so long but is unsure whether they will enter the gate or die before they even find it. The song talks about the underworld life and dream, and how it is a mirror image of what the singer is. The lyrics suggest that the singer is looking for love and light in the underworld, which will guide them on their journey.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about riding on the wings of death, which suggests that they have accepted their fate and are ready for whatever comes next. The lyrics suggest that the singer's life has been a battlefield, and the secret candle that someone has lit will burn their soul at last. This suggests that the singer is willing to sacrifice everything to find what they are looking for.
The song ends with the singer seeking shelter from the shadows, which suggests that they have not yet found what they were looking for. The phrase "don't let me go astray on my way to you" suggests that the singer is hoping to find the love and light that they seek, but they are afraid of getting lost on their journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you, will you - try to reach the distant light
Asking if someone will try to reach a seemingly unattainable goal
Running, running - when the days fade into night
Continuing to strive towards the aforementioned goal even in difficult times
And I will find the hidden gate, I'm longing for so long
Expressing a deep desire to find a way to the goal that has been sought after for a long time
I will never know if I will enter or may die!
Acknowledging the possibility of failure or even death in the pursuit of this goal
Down in the - underworld life and underworld dream
Describing a dark and mysterious place that represents the struggles of life
A mirror shadow of what I be
Reflecting the struggles and challenges faced in life through the imagery of a mirror
Underworld love and underworld gleam
Suggesting that even in this dark place, there is still love and hope to be found
Don't let me go astray on my way to you...my way to you!
Asking for guidance and direction towards the ultimate goal
Riding, riding - riding on the wings of death
Continuing to push forward despite the fear of death or failure
Hear them - calling - bear my name, and seal my fate
Feeling pulled towards the goal as if it has been predetermined
I see my life - a battlefield - the future and the past
Viewing life as a constant struggle between past regrets and future hopes
The secret candle you have lit - will burn my soul at last!
Referring to the hope and inspiration that someone else has provided in the darkest times
Shadows - gimme shelter! Let me hide myself tonight!
Expressing a desire to take a break and escape from the struggles of life
Underworld life and underworld dream
Continuing to describe the struggles and challenges of life as represented by this dark and mysterious place
A mirror shadow of what I be
Reflecting on the difficulties and challenges faced in life
Underworld love and underworld gleam
Finding hope and inspiration even in the darkest of times
Don't let me go astray on my way... to you!
Asking for guidance and direction towards the ultimate goal
Shadows - gimme shelter! Let me hide myself tonight!!
Expressing a deep desire for rest and respite from the struggles of life
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jan Niezbędny
This is how power metal should be played! \m/
AXXIS official
and we're not a power metal band ...we're just playing with different styles :-) check it out http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=axxisworld
clochunator
Temazo, discazo, grupazo... son de los más grandes
Ulfang
que gran banda ! y que buen coro ! gracias por subirlo lml
B4U4EVERXD
Gracias por verlo!!! Se agradece.
B4U4EVERXD
Yeah!!! It's amazing!!! (Y)
Constantin Gatej
omg, the ending is briliant
Beanie Clapper
Why why why have I not heard of this??? So good!!
B4U4EVERXD
Thanks for watching!!! \\m//
Shootingstarr
what a sick double bass all the song through :O