After 20 glorious years AXXIS is still placing the "Power" in Power Metal as they release their 20th anniversary album, "Utopia". Power Metal, however, is a step short of the band's main area, which is nothing less than pure Rock 'N' Roll - with their own tasteful and unique element. The very elegance of this album is massive; everything you could want in a CD is here: Good instrumentation, vocals, artwork, lyrics, and an upstanding atmosphere. AXXIS definitely crushed and thrust through their old material with no restraint, making this 20th anniversary album their absolute best yet.

After a brief listen, you may think the keyboards sound a little cheesy, as well as the female vocals you hear ever so often; they will grow on you though, and they refine the album by giving it a special sound that you don't get with other bands. The keyboards are powerful and catchy, and when you hear them you'll know just why they need to be there. And as far as the female voices, they may seem far fetched but they tie into and compliment the atmosphere this Cd brings you. The album has more to give than AXXIS' older releases in just about every way you can think of. "Utopia" paints a powerful graphic environment to anyone who listens; if you read the track names, take a gander at the cover art and listen to the music, you will find yourself on an exotic world journey. Another first for the band, "Fass Mich An" is their first ever track sung in German, and it is something worth hearing. This time around the band switched the guitars, amps, effects, and microphones up for each song to make the sound a bit different in each, a noble act indeed. The more you listen, the more you will enjoy "Utopia".

Breathing life directly into you with a sudden purity is the outstanding "Last Man On Earth" - They wrote it, they played it, and they conquered it; it's the most refreshing Rock 'N' Roll piece out there. The instruments keep at a perfect pace while the vocals take you away, and although there is no real way to describe how vocalist Bernhard Weiss sounds, he does what he does and makes it work for the music. If you've never listened to AXXIS before, well...it's better late than never. Their music definitely shines by having one of the more unique sounds out there right now, and it is very tasteful. The energetic "Sarah Wanna Die" is another gift from the album. The high vocal point of the lyric, "...And Sarah wanna die", is a rise that will get you all moving along with the music. "Fathers Eyes" is where "Utopia" cools off to a slower song, the instruments syncing to a sad, gleaming tone with the words and the way they are sung making for a true heart-taking track. Lastly is the glorious masterpiece of the entire album, "Heavy Rain". Your ears will capture the beauty of this song and it will stick in your head forevermore. If you like fast moving guitars, catchy drumming, and an adventurous voice, "Heavy Rain" beats them all.

We have yet another album from the reputable German musicians of AXXIS, and the quality is still there, better than ever. If you've been a fan of AXXIS in past times, there won't be any regrets when purchasing "Utopia". A rip-tide of an album washes up on shore, and as the bands 20th anniversary album it is every bit a worthy listen.