It was stressful because of two reasons. The first was - as you already said - the quality of the previous album, Paradise In Flames, and on the other hand we had not so much time after it was clear that we had the OK for playing with HELLOWEEN on their upcoming tour. The timing for the production needs to be perfect and it was a hard piece of work. But everybody in the band was envolved and hard working so that in the end Doom Of Destiny became what it is.

As for the last album, Bernie and me were responsible for the production. The mixing was done by Dennis Ward (ANGRA, PINK CREAM 69). Doom Of Destiny is indeed heavier. Our new guitar player Marco Wriedt did a very good job in the studio and so we put the guitars more in the front. To keep everything in balance then sometimes the keyboards overtake a part and give a mystic touch to the music.

For Paradise In Flames Lakonia was planned from the beginning on. Then we started producing a solo project with her and she wasn't planned on Doom Of Destiny. So Bernie did all the vocal tracks since we got the offer to go on tour with HELLOWEEN. That seems to us to be a great chance to make Lakonia European-wide well known, what would have been great for her solo project as well. Then we changed some of the vocal tracks with her voice.

When Marco came to the studio for the very first time it was clear that this he is the new guitar player of AXXIS. His style is formed from the same bands that we listen to (IRON MAIDEN, KISS, QUUEN) and when Marco starts playing he puts the guitar sound to the new songs that we needed. The feeling to play with Marco is so as if he would have been in the band from beginning on.

We always have the basic ideas (like the vampire girl, for example). The cover should represent every song. The artwork is done by Derek Gores who also did the last two covers as well.

There is no general concept but being critical. The title track Doom Of Destiny deals about the conflict of the different cultures between Europe and Arabia.

Astoria, for example, is about that virtual state with own currency but without land. Then, fantasy in songs like Blood Angel or love in the only ballad The Fire Still Burns.

We already wrote the songs for a Heavy Metal performance called Prometheus Brain Project in which Bernie also plays as an actor. During that time we learnt a lot about that 'concept' thing. We're discussing very often the possibility to do something similar with AXXIS. My opinion is that, if we have the right idea, we will go for it.

It deals about the progress of mankind. Prometheus was the one who created mankind and brought them progress by giving them fire. Everything under the aspect of advantage and disadvantage of globalisation.. A very critical discussion with that theme was the result.

For us this is the biggest tour after BLACK SABBATH with our first record. AXXIS is not so well known in the foreign countries as it is in Germany and this is a great chance to become. We have the chance to get in contact to the press people, the promoters and the fans directly.

Yes. It will be Ana Mladinovici of the Romanian band MAGICA. We found that she could represent the new songs perfectly on stage.

We had to make some compromises with the budget that we had. We wanted to play as many shows as possible and so we figured out a plan that works. I'm not so glad about this but there was no other possibility.

Yes we're happy with AFM. They support us very well, but I think this depends on our good sales!. I think we will do one more album after D.O.D. for AFM and than we have to take a look if all the investments we did (e.g. the tour now) are worth to go on in the future.

We have tons of material and many good ideas but not so much time to work with it. But we're getting closer, since we have some very good recordings from the Masters Of Rock festival in Czech.

A video is always a good promotion tool. We did a small video of the bonus track Engel Aus Hass that was sung with german lyrics. So you can see the band working in the studio etc.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. We are very proud about that success. But when someone is coming up and says do the same again! I must say no. You can't plan that. We always give the best we can in songwriting and producing. But you can't compare it to what we did in the past.

GOOD IDEA! Oh my God, such a long time.

AXXIS was influenced by bands like KISS, QUEEN, JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN. We never wanted to do the same album twice and so you have to find always new things to go forward. That makes the AXXIS style of today.

It's hard but always with good melodies. It's fast but sometimes smooth with the female voice. It's bombastic but always true.

What is a good melody?! I think if you have one, everybody(!) will like it. The aggression in the music today is the same as in our world today where no one takes care of each other. It is like a mirror. In times of globalisation everything in life is getting harder and harder and so the music did. This is not a world of milk and honey.

Thanx too!