Enjoying a reasonable amount of exposure in their time, German Melodic Metal outfit AXXIS' first demo tape, released in 1988, was titled 'Tears Of The Trees' and featured the initial line-up of AXXIS featured vocalist Bernhard Weiss, guitarist Walter Pietsch, bassist Werner Kleinhans and drummer Richard Michaelski. On first submission of this demo EMI rejected the band but upon a second push AXXIS were duly signed.

The first AXXIS album, February 1989's 'Kingdom Of The Night', gave the band one of the most successful debuts in German Rock history with exceptional sales in excess of 100'000 copies. Recognition of this feat was afforded by the Multimedia organisation, presenting AXXIS with an award for the 'Best Selling Debut by a German Rock Band'. Touring to promote the album in September 1989 included guest slots to BLACK SABBATH.

The group added keyboard player Harry Oellers for the second album, released in August 1990 and simply billed as 'II', and upon its release set off on a European headline tour. A live album, 'Access All Areas' issued in May 1991, cemented their reputation. 1993 continued the upward trend for AXXIS as their 'The Big Thrill' album, their first to be recorded in America and produced by Joey Balin, broke open new markets, necessitating increased live work including Japan. This territory would also witness the release of an exclusive album 'Profile', promoted by an acoustic tour by Weiss and Pietsch. AXXIS would do the European rounds once again with Russian band GORKY PARK as support.

The 1995 album 'Matters Of Survival' was produced by Keith Olsen, noted for his work with WHITESNAKE. The band still commanded popularity as evidenced by their appearance at the Rock Am Ring Festival in front of 30'000 people.

The 1997 effort 'Voodoo Vibes' was, working alongside engineer Thomas Kemper, a self produced work laid down in just 18 days at the legendary Dierks studios. Naturally, AXXIS found themselves on the road in Germany to promote its release in May of that year. A later bout of touring had AXXIS co-headlining alongside U.D.O. However, in January 1998 guitarist Walter Pietsch opted to depart. The following year AXXIS made available an MP3.com download compilation album entitled 'Pure& Rough'.

AXXIS, touting the 'Back To The Kingdom' album, made a welcome return in March 2000 on the independent Massacre label. Touring to promote the release found the band on the road with label mates PINK CREAM 69. The September 2001 'Eyes Of Darkness' album, which included a cover version of the APHRODITE'S CHILD track 'The Four Horsemen', would witness a band line up of Weiss, Oellers, Michalski, guitarist Guido Wehmeyer and bass player Kuno Niemeyer.

AXXIS forged an alliance with KAMELOT for a lengthy run of European tour dates commencing on the 16th of January 2002 at the Planet B in Korbach, Germany. AXXIS headlined on the German dates before switching to opening act for shows in the rest of Europe. The band had their version of 'Good Times, Bad Times' included on the Locomotive Music LED ZEPPELIN tribute album 'The Metal Zeppelin - The Music Remains The Same'.

Recordings for the 'Time Machine' album in 2003 saw a guest appearance by PINK CREAM 69 drummer Kosta Zafiriou. Apparently longstanding drummer Richard Michaelski had been missing for over a year. Such was the concern of the absent musician police searches were conducted but to no avail. AXXIS geared up for 2004 by lining up a set of co-headline gigs allied with PINK CREAM 69 and CRYSTAL BALL for March. Bassist Kuno Niemayer backed out in July, being swiftly replaced by CYBERA's Rob Schoemaker.

AXXIS lent support to HELLOWEEN for gigs in Italy and Switzerland in February 2006 then KROKUS throughout Germany in May. Later that year Bernhard Weiss and Harry Oellers contributed their songwriting skills to an unorthodox venture, the PROMETHEUS BRAIN PROJECT, a political Rock Opera created by Walter Weyers of Memmingen's Landestheater. Guitarist Guido Wehmeyer exited in September.

AXXIS announced the addition of former TIME and DAIZE SHAYNE guitarist Marco Wriedt to the group's ranks in January 2007. The group introduced new drummer Alex Landenburg, of MEKONG DELTA, in November 2008.

The 'Utopia' album arrived on 28th August 2009 through AFM Records, hitting no. 40 on the German national charts. The twelve minute bonus track, '20 Years Anniversary Song', featured studio guests DORO, Andi Deris of HELLOWEEN, Clas Lessmann of BONFIRE, David Readman of PINK CREAM 69, Schmier of DESTRUCTION, Rolf Stahlhofen and ex-AXXIS man Walter Pietsch.

Garry Sharpe-Young