Recent Discoveries Pt. 1: Axxis

On my last trip to Virgin I got three albums from bands I never knew existed until then. They would have been blind purchases (something I just can't do anymore with a limited budget-and so many damn albums out there) if Virgin did't have a way to hear samples from most of the CDs they carry. First is Axxis-Doom Of Destiny.



This one is the veterans of the three and have been around since the late 80s where they were a melodic hard rock band (and from the songs I heard on youtube, a very good one). They later developed into a Euro-power and melodic hard rock hybrid. They were also the opening act for Helloween and Gamma Ray during their European tour recently. Apart from an awesome album cover, these guys have some good melodic power metal that is not in any way generic (IMO anyway). The most distinctive feature is vocalist Bernhard Weiss. There is a quality of his voice that I can't explain but it works real well. Also impressive is the beatiful voice of female vocalist, Lakonia (she was guest vocalist in their last album as well). Best tracks are Doom Of Destiny (Arabia), Better Fate, Blood Angel, and the ballad The Fire Still Burns.

An old song from the early years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejFvNtXpT3A

Some other songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-jhUBoDHKk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zJY3ewCPqo&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP33HnzVDlg&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD3nXXui_fk&feature=related

Some more metal oriented songs (except the last one, a ballad featuring the above mentioned beautiful voice of Lakonia):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgzOY3RFLuM&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9A-RZtjis&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aLHLHwlGb4&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PejB433HXJY

Title track from the album I have (the best song on the album):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuresTsgR2E

Another good one from the album (judging from the lyrics, it's some sort of Vampire love song):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVJxve-gnk&feature=related

I think I prefer the early Axxis, but Im no expert. Saw that first tour when they supported Sabbath on Headless Cross as well as the Helloween/Gamma Ray tour.

Early Axxis is great as hell!

Wargod48

I like older Axxis as well. Haven't really heard much of their new stuff.




Arttie

I've got a lot of their albums including the newest one. They're all very good.

I have one of their albums, Time Machine, not bad at all!! I`ve been meaning to get some of their older stuff...

Kingdom of the Night is still a fave for me. Good band.