Band:	Axxis
Album:	Time Machine
Style:	Heavy metal, Power metal
Release date:	January 2004

01. Mystery Of Time
02. Angel Of Death
03. Time Machine
04. Wind In The Night (Shalom)
05. Lost In The Darkness
06. The Demons Are Calling...
07. Wings Of Freedom
08. Dance In The Starlight
09. Battle Of Power
10. Alive
11. Gimme Your Blood
12. Don't Drag Me Down
13. River Of Love [bonus]
14. Circus Of Love [bonus]

The German Melodic Hard Rockers "Axxis" have always been one of my favorite bands, their Melodic music and Bernhard's (Weiss) voice is one of the best in the world, and everything his voice in into turns out to be good, every damn song they ever done is good, thanks to him.
But now is this review not about Bernhard, no it's about "Axxis" new album, "Time Machine", that's going to be released in the beginning of next year.
It was back in 1989 when we got the first contact with the German hard rockers, when they one day was nobodies and the day after, famous to everyone, a really strong thing to do and their debut, "Kingdom of the Night", is a killer.

When it comes to an "Axxis" album, you won't need 4, 5, or maybe 6, 7 listenings before you stuck with it, you just need 1 or 2, then you gonna love it, or hate it (if you are one of all Melodic haters), but I guess that everyone that buys a "Axxis" album know what they are getting so.
And I know, that many was very disappointed with the "Voodoo Vibes" release and if any of you are worried that this would be something in the same class, stop worry, this is pure "Axxis" nothing less.
"Axxis" is relaying on their fans and the fans on "Axxis", so I don't think that they guys will experiment with their music anymore, they know what the fans want and know what they are doing best, and that is to play pure "Axxis" Hardrock. But don't think it's exactly like they previous releases, no it's new and fresh, not the same thing over and over again, but still "Axxis".

"Time Machine" is the first release on their new label, AFM Records, and I guess that AFM is trying to find something that can fill the empty space after that they lost "Edguy" to Nuclear Blast.
And I think that they did a great thing to sign "Axxis", 'cause now "Axxis" have a chance to get out to more people than before and maybe get even bigger than they are, and they deserve it.
Because after that the record deal with EMI expired they have been on many "not-that-big" labels.

As I said, "Time Machine" is a typical "Axxis" release, (with Typical I mean that it's a damn good album, that rock the hell out of all other Melodic Hardrock) with much melodic music, so much that it's just spreading happiness around it. And with Bernhard on vocals, it's a killer, as all "Axxis" albums.
Even if the song titles are a bit different this time, but the music is the same.
The album is rippin' of with the intro "Mystery of Time", that starts with a pocket watch. The intro is a short one before the first song "Angel of Death" which is one of the different song titles, but it's a very good "Axxis" song, that starts with a acoustic guitar then a electric one is filling up, a really nice track, one of the best.
After the first track, the titeltrack is coming; "Time Machine", and the pocket watch from the intro are back again. And again, it's "Axxis" both the melody and the sing-able lyric is as it should be, and I'm not worried anymore that I would be disappointed off this release, this is "Axxis".
But the most typical "Axxis" song is the one that follow the title track, "Wind in the Night (Shalom), the easy lyrics just penetrate your mind and you can't resist to sing together with Bernhard? Damn good song, damn much "Axxis".

The rest of the album is in the same spirit, "Axxis" Hardrock, the Hardrock we can't live without.
So all of you, "Axxis" and Melodic Hardrock lovers out there, this is you first present for the next year, make sure that you get this, it's a killer for sure.


Killing Songs: "Angel of Death", "Time Machine", "Wind in the Night (Shalom)", "Dancing in the Starlight" & all the rest of the album kills.