Axxis - Kingdom Of The Night II - Black And White Edition (2CD) [320kbps] (2014) [Gorgatz]

Axxis - Kingdom Of The Night II - Black And White Edition [320kbps] (2014) [Gorgatz]



- I N F O -

It was on the day 25 years ago when German band Axxis released their debut "Kingdom of the night". Since the guys are well known for also unconventional things (see "ReDiscoVered" or the 20st anniversary show) they also couldn't let go this opportunity. "Kingdom of the night" was released 28.2.1989 and became one of the most important German hardrock releases. Now the band of singer Bernhard Weiss decided that it is time for a version II. But Axxis is not only re-recording their first CD, they do more. Weiss said, that looking back in time gave the band a creative push and writing of new songs went on and on. In the end the band had so much material, that they couldn't press it on one disc.

That's why Axxis actually splits up the album into two parts which are separately available. There will be the 'black edition' and the 'white edition'. Your guess is right. The 'black edition' covers the more heavy and dark songs from the bands debut while the 'white edition' takes care about the more quiet songs and the ballads.

The 'black edition' starts with the well know "Kingdom of the night", a track which reminds me to my own youth. Great to here it again. Next to this bands classic there is more outstanding material on this record. "The venom" is a heavy riff based killer, but still melodic and catchy. The same goes for "Soulfire", which is one of my personal faves. "Never again" is more of a mid-tempo rocker. With a full sound the pounding drums push the song forward. With "Lass dich gehn" Axxis also recorded a power song with German lyrics and they managed that it sounds cool instead of embarassing.

The 'white version' is than more for a car ride with your girlfriend. I don't want to say that the songs don't rock, they do ("Hall of fame" and "Marry married a monster"), but Axxis also have placed the softer songs and the ballads on this disc. With "Living in a dream" the guys also placed a highlight from the debut on this edition. This is just a great songs which even after 25 years tranfers the same spirit than in 1989. At the midway point Axxis placed the real ballads. Songs like "Crosses", "My eyes" and "Gone with the wind" are pure emotions. And again, also here the German quintet never gets into cliches and stereotypes. It's the hooks which are doing their job. Ones heard the melodies are caught in your mind.

For me Axxis was and is special. Eventhough they never had the big breakthrough they managed to stay in the business for more than 25 years based on passion and an tirelessly work of Bernhard Weiss. This deserves a lot od respect. The sound of Axxis is timeless and authentic. I like their attitude and their music and I like those two albums. Thumbs up.

In 2014, Axxis and I both celebrate our 25th birthdays. The German power metal veterans have about six months on me, though, and unless I rob a bank and abduct a couple of musicians, I won’t release an anniversary album anytime soon. I have the material, just not the manpower.

Axxis beat me to it anyway, with a double-album nonetheless. Kingdom Of The Night II is , as with all sequels, a bloated version of the original: not one, but two discs. A Black Edition consisting of “heavier, darker” stuff, and one White Edition filled with “ballads and more quiet songs”. I don’t know if there’s much demand for the latter, but the former at least drew my attention. Utopia still gives me melodic shivers, after all, and last year’s reDISCOver(ed) is not only a horrible ordeal to type, but also did little to quench my thirst for new material.


Being a stranger to the original Kingdom Of The Night, I don’t know how this stacks up to Axxis’ beginnings. As a follow-up to Utopia, however, it’s fairly satisfactory. The trademark upbeat sensibilities, infectious melodies, and Bernard Weiß’ helium balloon-vocals are all firmly on display, as if very little time had passed. The opening title track is one of those “move your feet and stamp around”-songs that Freedom Call would agree with, and despite your misgivings about dancing and metal, I dare you to resist. It’s a celebratory tune, the kind you hear at weddings that would make you cringe in everyday life, but in that situation and with that many drinks inside you, it’s just fun to hum along to.

The rest of the material is more meaty. “Beyond The Sky” captures some of that flighty spirit that lifted the best moments of Utopia into the stratosphere, “Lie After Lie” has the kind of hyperkinetic video game lead melody that’s so typical for this band, and “Bites Inside” is power metal with the faintest snarl possible. Most German bands would flinch at the idea of doing a song in German – or so Alex Beyrodt of Silent Force and other fame once told me – but Axxis embraces their native language with “Lass Dich Gehn” which means so much as “I’m Going To Kill Everyone”, because it’s German. If you can’t figure out what it really means, perhaps it’s time to go back to school. Another standout is “Mary Married A Monster”, an allegorical fairytale about abusive marriages. Or something. I’m just singing the refrain here without looking at my screen.

Most of the choruses are similarly catchy, but contrary to Utopia, they’re all a bit alike. Not that every song isn’t well crafted, but after a while it feels somewhat repetitive. Constantly entertaining, but not always as memorable. My guess is that Axxis attempted to bridge the heavy metal of their early days with the power metal of now, and the result is an album in between traditional tastes and modern progression. As an overview of their career, it’s probably representative, as the next step in their evolution it feels retrograde. In any case, it’s nice to have Axxis back into the Kingdom Of The Night, and hopefully we won’t have to sit through another round of covers before the next one rolls around. Here’s to another 25, and if I feel particularly sappy or I’m appropriately stocked up on tissues, I will give the White Edition a go.

- T R A C K L I S T -

Black Edition

01. Kingdom of the Night II 04:15
02. Venom 03:47
03. Beyond the Sky 04:21
04. The War 03:43
05. Never Again 03:50
06. Soulfire 04:14
07. More than for One Day 03:24
08. Lass Dich gehn 04:03
09. Lie After Lie 03:40
10. Mary Married a Monster (Our Version) 03:28
11. Bites Inside 03:55

White Edition

01. Hall of Fame 03:38
02. Heaven in Paradise 03:54
03. Living in a Dream 04:19
04. 21 Crosses 05:07
05. My Eyes 03:42
06. Dance into Life 04:15
07. Mary Married a Monster (Her Version) 04:05
08. We Are the World 03:18
09. Take Me Far Away 03:16
10. Gone with the Wind 03:18
11. Temple of Rock 04:01

Disc 1 - Black Edition CD includes heavier and darker songs.
Disc 2 - White Edition CD includes ballads and more quiet songs.

Format: Mp3, CBR 320 kbps
Genre: Melodic Metal
Size: 199.5 MB