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
White Wedding
Axxis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey little sister who's the only one?
Hey little sister who's your Superman?
Hey little sister who's the one you want?
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
It's a nice day to start again
Hey little sister what's your vice and wish?
Hey little sister shotgun, oh yeah
Hey little sister who's your Superman?
Hey little sister shotgun
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
It's a nice day to start again!
Pick it up!
Take me back home yeah!
Hey little sister what have you done?
Hey little sister who's the only one?
I've been away for so long (so long)
I've been away for so long (so long)
I let you go for so long
It's a nice day to start again
Come on, It's a nice day for a White Wedding
It's a nice day to start again!
There is nothing fair in this world
There is nothing safe in this world
And there is nothing sure in this world
And there is nothing pure in this world
If there's something left in this world
Start again (how, how)
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
It's a nice day to start again (repeat till fade)
The lyrics to Axxis's song White Wedding suggest that the singer is talking to his little sister and asking her who she is with and who she wants to be with. The line "Hey little sister who's your Superman?" could possibly be referring to a man who the sister idolizes and looks up to. The use of the term "shot gun" could signify the protective nature of the singer towards his little sister or possibly a threat to whoever she may be with.
The chorus "It's a nice day to start again, It's a nice day for a White Wedding" suggests that the singer wants to leave the past behind and start fresh. The White Wedding could mean a new beginning, or a pure and clean slate to start from. There is a shift in the song towards the end where the singer acknowledges that the world is not fair, safe, sure, or pure, but if there is something left in this world, he encourages his sister to start again, to have a clean start irrespective of the impurities in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little sister what have you done?
Asking the younger sister what she has been up to
Hey little sister who's the only one?
Inquiring about who the younger sister is fond of among those around her
Hey little sister who's your Superman?
Asking who the younger sister's role model or hero is
Hey little sister who's the one you want?
Asking who the younger sister desires or admires
Hey little sister shot gun!
Referring to taking the front seat while driving
It's a nice day to start again
The present day provides a good opportunity for a fresh start
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
The condition of the day is perfect for a highly celebrated ceremony
Hey little sister who is it you're with?
Asking the younger sister who she is presently accompanying
Hey little sister what's your vice and wish?
Asking the younger sister about her bad habits and aspirations
Hey little sister shotgun, oh yeah
Asking to occupy the front seat when traveling
Hey little sister who's your Superman?
Asking the younger sister who she looks up to as an ideal or hero
Hey little sister shotgun
Referring to sitting at the front seat of a vehicle
It's a nice day to start again
Present day provides an opportunity to start anew
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
The perfect conditions for a highly celebrated ceremony
It's a nice day to start again!
It is an excellent day to commence again
Pick it up!
Encouragement to move or act quickly
Take me back home yeah!
Asking to be returned home
Hey little sister what have you done?
Asking the younger sister what she has been up to
Hey little sister who's the only one?
Asking the younger sister about her most adored person
I've been away for so long (so long)
Expressing how long one has been absent
I let you go for so long
Said in reference to having spent a long time away from someone important
It's a nice day to start again
The day provides an opening to start anew
Come on, It's a nice day for a White Wedding
Encouragement to celebrate with a grand ceremony
It's a nice day to start again!
It is an excellent day to commence again
There is nothing fair in this world
Life is not always just or equitable
There is nothing safe in this world
The world is not always protective or secure
And there is nothing sure in this world
The world is not always predictable or definite
And there is nothing pure in this world
The world is not always virtuous or unspoiled
If there's something left in this world
If anything good still exists in the world
Start again (how, how)
Begin again, even if uncertain of how to do it
It's a nice day for a White Wedding
The conditions are right for a joyous ceremony
It's a nice day to start again (repeat till fade)
The day offers a chance to start anew
Contributed by Gabriel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.