Just recently, virtuosic extreme metallers, OBSCURA announced that their sixth studio album “A Valediction” will see the light of day on November 19th and that they are ready to hit the road with their upcoming European tour in autumn. Today it is time for the first single and video from their new masterpiece, called “Solaris”
Founder & mastermind Steffen Kummerer comments on the track as follows: “Solaris” turned out to become one of the band’s shortest and utmost direct compositions featuring all trademarks, lots of attitude and melodic approach. Flattering guitar work, pushing drums and swinging bass lines combined with a relentless vocal performance and ultrasonic leads became easily a highlight of “A Valediction”.
The video has been directed by Mirko Witzki and you can watch it here:
“A Valediction” will be available in various formats and is now finally up for pre-order and pre-save via this link: https://bfan.link/Obscura
Mixed and mastered by award-winning producer Fredrik Nordström, “A Valediction” is due to be released on November 19th and the band will head out for their European tour right away.
Just recently, virtuosic extreme metallers, OBSCURA, have announced the completion of their sixth studio album “A Valediction” that will see the light of day on November 19th and obviously, the German combo around mastermind and founder Steffen Kummerer is more eager than ever to finally hit the stages again.
Together with Andorra’s prog masters PERSEFONE and Germany’s progressive melodic death metallers DISILLUSION, OBSCURA will kick-off their “A Valediction” European Tour 2021 on the day before their album release and conclude the extensive run including 21 international dates with a spectacular home game in Munich on December 11th.
„Europe, we will hit the road in November and December presenting our brand new album ‘A Valediction’! We celebrate the release of our sixth full-length album with an extensive setlist, a major stage production and exceptional lineup. Join us in this new chapter, reserve your tickets and don’t miss out on the tour of the year!”, states OBSCURA‘s frontman Steffen Kummerer.
“Since the first time we met OBSCURA at UK Tech Fest years ago, there’s been a great relationship between both bands! When the chance to join forces on a tour happened, we knew we had to jump in. OBSCURA is a big reference when it comes to technical death metal and we think that this tour package, combined with the release of new music from both bands, will offer an intense and diverse musical landscape at every show. We are so excited to get back on the road with such an amazing band”, adds PERSEFONE.
“DISILLUSION” is very excited to be touring Europe with the fabulous OBSCURA and PERSEFONE at the end of the year! After the long break due to the pandemic, it feels great to get back on stage and feel the vibe of the live atmosphere. Above all, we are tremendously happy that many of our fans will experience their first DISILLUSION live concert, as we are visiting many countries for the first time. Let’s keep fingers crossed that this will be happening!”, concludes DISILLUSION.
Tickets are on sale now and you can catch OBSCURA on one of the following European live dates:
OBSCURA with PERSEFONE + DISILLUSION 18/11/ Vienna – Viper Room 19/11/ Prague – Nova Chmelnice 20/11/ Poznan – Klub 2Progi 21/11/ Berlin – Hole 44 22/11/ Hamburg – Knust 23/11/ Cologne – Gebäude 9 24/11/ Frankfurt – Das Bett 25/11/ Nijmegen – Doornroosje 27/11/ Leeds – Brudenell 28/11/ Glasgow – Audio 30/11/ Dublin – Voodoo Lounge 01/12/ Bristol – Exchange 02/12/ London – The Underworld 03/12/ Paris – Petit Bain 05/12/ Toulouse – Le Rex 06/12/ Madrid – Caracol 07/12/ Barcelona – La Nau 08/12/ Lyon – CCO 09/12/ Milan – Legend Club 10/12/ Zürich – Komplex 11/12/ München – Backstage Halle
Twenty years active; six highly prized albums; over 600 shows on four continents. “A Valediction” finds OBSCURA turning the page to a new chapter in the band’s evolution. A year in the works, the songwriting sessions followed a new approach, where the framework was relaxed, allowing new inspirations, imagining, and opportunities to arise. Songs like the opening epic ‘Forsaken,’ the ’80s-tinted ‘When Stars Collide’ (featuring Soilwork/The Night Flight Orchestra frontman Björn Strid), the brutal groove of ‘Devoured Usurper,’ the ethereal artistry of ‘Heritage,’ and the fleet-fingered title track benefitted compositionally (refined structures) and aesthetically (more dynamism) from OBSCURA’s restyled songwriting stratagem.
In 2021, the group continue to be a beacon for change. No doubt OBSCURA’s new stats will amaze, but what they’re focused on is the release of “A Valediction” and then taking it on the road. Several high-caliber tours of Europe, North America, and Asia are planned through to 2023, with routes are in the works for the band to visit Australia, South America, and beyond. Truly, there is no band quite like OBSCURA. “A Valediction” proves that persistence, perseverance, and enterprising minds can achieve anything. Welcome to the next level!
On November 19th, German metal band, OBSCURA, will herald a new era of extreme metal as they combine virtuosic songwriting with surprisingly catchy melodies and stunning craftsmanship.
After recently finishing the recordings in Gothenburg for their sixth studio album to date and the follow-up to 2018’s “Diluvium”, the combo around mastermind and founder Steffen Kummerer is now announcing the title of their upcoming album to be “A Valediction”. Thematically dealing with final farewells, the album will be a very personal record, as Steffen reveals:
“A Valediction” unfolds OBSCURA in its purest form and showcases the band at new heights and offers immediacy with a rather personal touch. We cannot wait to perform this album on stage and celebrate each and every song live with our loyal fans around the globe. This record goes to eleven, so watch out for the first single dropping in July and worldwide tour dates to be announced soon.”
The album, graced by a cover artwork painted by internationally renowned artist Eliran Kantor, will consist of 11 new studio tracks and the tracklist reads as follows: 01) Forsaken 02) Solaris 03) A Valediction 04) When Stars Collide (feat. Björn ‘Speed’ Strid) 05) In Unity 06) Devoured Usurper 07) The Beyond 08) Orbital Elements II 09) The Neuromancer 10) In Adversity 11) Heritage
Mixed and mastered by award-winning producer Fredrik Nordström, “A Valediction” is due to be released on November 19th, and the band is already preparing further plans for this autumn which are soon to be announced. The first single of the OBSCURA‘s new chef d’oeuvre will see the light of day in July, so stay tuned for further information on the song, the album pre-order and an upcoming European tour!
German tech death metal titans, OBSCURA, finished the songwriting for their upcoming album and enter the studio to record the follow-up to 2018’s “Diluvium”. The sixth album of OBSCURA is scheduled for a 2021 woldwide release via Nuclear Blast. The band tapped famous award-winning producer Fredrik Nordström for the upcoming full-length album and booked famous Studio Fredman, located in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Steffen Kummerer states: „As of now, songwriting duties for the new, yet untitled album, have been finished. We picked the most promising compositions out of more than twenty pieces written during the last months and we can’t wait to record our sixth studio effort, starting in December. While the new album contains more guitar solos than any of our records before, all compositions are eagerly waiting to be performed live on stage and celebrated worldwide with our fans. As a collective, we are enthusiastic about the diverse, progressive and heavy songs to be released in 2021 through Nuclear Blast records.”
OBSCURA was formed by Steffen Kummerer in 2002 and established its reputation by releasing five studio albums that have been highly acclaimed by fans and press alike. Putting great emphasis on hooks and songwriting, OBSCURA became one of the modern age elites within the genre. Their latest album “Diluvium” is a stunning achievement for the illustrious quartet and a landmark release for progressive metal as a whole. Complete with all the band’s signature elements plus groundbreaking polyrhythms, dramatic songwriting, and jaw-dropping virtuosity, OBSCURA raised the bar with an album that will go down in the annals of metal history as one of the most astonishing performances the genre has to offer.
A new video in which OBSCURA guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer presents his ESP Guitars Japan Custom model – from its unique shape to selected EMG pickups – can be seen below.
Founded OBSCURA and THULCANDRA in 2002 and 2003 respectively, Kummerer is leading both groups up today, receiving worldwide recognition as vocalist & guitarist. OBSCURA established its reputation by releasing five studio albums which have been highly acclaimed by fans and press alike, accompanied by hundreds of shows all around the globe. Putting great emphasis on hooks and songwriting, OBSCURA became one of the modern age elites within the genre.
Based on his work with OBSCURA, Kummerer joined DEATH TO ALL / DEATH DTA for numerous shows in Europe, South- & Central America to perform the music of the late Chuck Schuldiner alongside original members Gene Hoglan (TESTAMENT, DEATH, DARK ANGEL), Steve DiGiorgio (DEATH, SADUS, SOEN), Sean Reinert (DEATH, CYNIC), Paul Masvidal (DEATH, CYNIC), Bobby Koelble (DEATH) and Max Phelps (EXIST).
In 2017, Kummerer left RAN Guitars after 15 years of successful collaboration. He states:
„After three years in the making, ESP Guitars released an astonishing instrument which perfectly suits my needs on stage and in the studio. Working on this project with excellent people in Germany, the United States and Japan over such a long period turned into a unique guitar featuring the finest Japanese craftsmanship. Makoto Suzuki and his team of ESP Japan delivered an excellent, perfect built guitar – top-notch of quality combined with breathtaking design. The choice of adding scalloped frets, a tailor-made cutaway and customized solutions for every need enhanced the playing experience. I am looking forward to recording OBSCURA’s new album soon and start rehearsing for all upcoming tours and festivals. With Christian Münzner, Jeroen Paul Thesseling and David Diepold a new chapter of the band begun and we are excited to release new music through our new partner NUCLEAR BLAST.”
OBSCURA have completed their new line-up with rejoining guitarist CHRISTIAN MÜNZNER.
After a six-year break, legendary German guitarist Christian Münzner (ETERNITY’S END, PARADOX, ALKALOID, ex-NECROPHAGIST, ex-SPAWN OF POSSESSION) has rejoined the German progressive death metallers OBSCURA as a permanent member. Münzner, known for his virtuoso guitar playing in extreme metal, joined OBSCURA in 2008 and recorded the band’s critically acclaimed full-length albums “Cosmogenesis” (2009) and “Omnivium” (2011), both released via Relapse Records. He has toured the world, collaborated internationally with several groups as session player and is also working as guitar teacher.
Christian says, “I’m very excited to be back in the band. After my departure in 2014 I stayed very active on the scene in various formats, but I needed some time off from the busy touring schedule to take the time and learn to manage my hand issues, regroup my thoughts about my musical future and focus on some other matters that were going on in my life at that time.
I’m happy to say I’m back with a vengeance and I feel I have taken my playing to a new level in recent years, and I can’t wait to share with all the Obscura fans what we are working on at the moment. During my time away from the band we remained in touch, and in recent years I felt my interest in extreme music and the drive to write and play in that style resurfacing, it feels like everything came together at the perfect moment. I think we are having a very strong line-up and I am excited about the future of OBSCURA”.
Among his solo releases “Timewarp” (2011), “Beyond the Wall of Sleep” (2014) and “Path of the Hero” (2020), he also appeared on NECROPHAGIST’s critically acclaimed second studio album, “Epitaph” (2004), SPAWN OF POSSESSION’s third studio album, “Incurso” (2012), PARADOX’s sixth studio album “Tales Of The Weird” (2012), ALKALOID’s first and second studio albums, “The Malkuth Grimoire” (2015), “Liquid Anatomy” (2018), ETERNITY’S END’s first and second albums, “The Fire Within” (2016) and “Unyielding” (2018).
As revealed last month, Dutch fretless bass player Jeroen Paul Thesseling rejoined OBSCURA after a nine-year break. Earlier this month the group also announced Austrian drummer David Diepold as their new member. Now, with the comeback of former guitarist Christian Münzner, 75% of the classic Cosmogenesis (2009) and Omnivium (2011) line-up is reunited.
Steffen Kummerer – guitars, vocals
Christian Münzner – guitars
Jeroen Paul Thesseling – bass
David Diepold – drums
Founded in 2002 by German guitarist/ vocalist Steffen Kummerer, OBSCURA established its reputation releasing five studio albums which have been highly acclaimed by fans and press alike, accompanied by playing support tours as well as their own headline shows all around the globe.
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