Eyes of Darkness

Eyes of Darkness is a fulfilling work on which Axxis adds a darker, deeper hue and a sure drama to its clear melodic hard rock. After the return of the previous Back to the Kingdom, it powerfully takes in a more shaded expression into its musicality. The guitar riffs cut in sharply, and the choruses open widely and openly. A record that deepens its impression by placing a sure tension and deep shading within the songs, rather than relying on brightness alone. From the powerful drive of the opening title track “Eyes of Darkness” and the drama of “Wonderland” to a cut like “The Four Horsemen,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Brandnew World” and “When the Sun Goes Down” convey the work’s fullness. Bernhard Weiss’s expressive voice powerfully supports that shaded world. A fulfilling record particular to a mature period, binding catchy accessibility and a sure hardness in an extremely good balance. While treating darker, more serious themes, Axxis’s own melodic strength is not lost in the least. A powerful, engaging record showing the band’s musical deepening — a record where the band’s maturity shines.