Obscura (band)

Obscura
Background information
Origin	Landshut, Germany
Genres	Progressive metal, Technical death metal[1][2]
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Relapse Records Voice of the Soul Records
Associated acts	Death, Necrophagist, Pestilence
Website	http://www.realmofobscura.com/
Members	Steffen Kummerer Linus Klausenitzer Rafael Trujillo Sebastian Lanser

Obscura is a German technical death metal band from Landshut, Germany. The band became prominent when members of Necrophagist and Pestilence joined Steffen Kummerer to release the critically acclaimed second full-length album, Cosmogenesis. To date the band have released four full-length albums, with their latest being Akróasis, released in 2016. Obscura are known for playing technically and compositionally complex music, with several band members having studied music theory.^[3][4]

Obscura's discography draws significant philosophical influences from Arthur Schopenhauer,^[5] Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schelling, whose writings on Naturphilosophie formed the conceptual basis for their lyrics.^[6]

History

Obscura was founded in 2002 by Steffen Kummerer. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura.^[7] Finished in August 2004, Obscura self-released Retribution in 2006 and toured alongside Suffocation within Europe. In 2007, drummer Hannes Grossmann (ex-Necrophagist), fretless bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling and guitarist Christian Muenzner (ex-Necrophagist) were recruited as new permanent members.^[8]

Cosmogenesis

In September 2008 Obscura signed with Relapse Records ^[9] and released its second full-length album Cosmogenesis in early 2009. The album sold around 900 copies in the USA in its first week and debuted at number 71 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.^[10] The band started their first-ever North American tour as part of the Cosmogenesis Worldtour in April 2009 alongside Cannibal Corpse. Within one year the band played more than 160 shows all over the world as support for Atheist, the Black Dahlia Murder and Cannibal Corpse. Their first headliner tour was in the USA. Obscura toured Japan as support for Nile and Triptykon in 2010. On February 16, 2010, Obscura reissued their debut album Retribution remastered and repackaged with three bonus tracks. Obscura's official guitar tablature book for Cosmogenesis was released on January 5. Cosmogenesis was listed by Metal Storm as one the 100 most important death metal albums.^[11]

Omnivium

Founder and frontman Steffen Kummerer with his seven-string signature Ran guitar

Obscura released Omnivium on March 29, 2011. The record was written over a period of two years, with members writing songs and sending them to each other over the internet. On a lyrical basis the album dealt with religion and the evolution of humankind, with Kummerer taking significant influence from Friedrich Schelling's “On Nature's Connection to the Spirit World”^[12] The album earned positive feedback around the world and entered US and German charts, selling 2,000 within the first week of release in the US.^[13] It debuted at number 11 on the USA's Top Heatseekers chart,^[14] and at number 14 on Germany's Media Control Newcomer chart.^[15]

The artwork for the album follows a specific color scheme as part of a four-album concept sequence. Orion Landau, who also published the artwork for the last two albums, was responsible for developing Kummerer's ideas for the cover art.^[12]

Thesseling left the band due to scheduling conflicts between Obscura and Pestilence. Later, Thesseling cited economic reasons and his age as being the motive for rejoining Pestilence.^[16]

Thesseling was replaced with Linus Klausenitzer of the progressive death metal band Noneuclid, the band making the announcement in September 2011. Obscura started the 164 concerts lasting Omnivium Worldtour in their home town Landshut, Germany, followed by a full European tour alongside Hate Eternal, Beneath the Massacre and Defiled. They also played a five-week tour supporting Children of Bodom and Devin Townsend within North America. On the August 10 the band announced their first southeast Asian headlining tour, performing in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. In November and December the same year a North American headlining tour followed, supported by Abysmal Dawn and Last Chance to Reason. In March–April 2012 the band headlined a European run with support by Spawn of Possession, Gorod and Exivious. To promote Omnivium, the band played a first headlining tour in Japan alongside Beneath the Massacre and Defiled in June 2012. In 2013 Obscura embarked on a European Tour alongside Death, with most of the shows sold out.

Illegimitation

Guitarist Christian Münzner left Necrophagist in 2006 before joining Obscura

In late 2011 Obscura started an online crowdfunding scheme to pay for the release of a combination of their first demo, demos from the Cosmogenesis sessions and three cover songs from the bands Death, Atheist and Cynic. Within 60 days the band generated $14,600 in fan donations, almost five times their financial target.

In celebration of their tenth year as a band, the band played a special anniversary show on the December 15, 2012, in Landshut, Germany, with support from Dark Fortress and Hokum. The show featured a reunion of the early members who recorded the first demo, Illegimitation. This show also marked the end of the Omnivium Worldtour. In March 2013, Obscura embarked on a European Tour supported by Aeon, Deadborn and Over Your Threshold.

Akróasis

In 2014, guitarist Christian Münzner left the band due to creative differences and his inability to tour as a result of his focal dystonia muscle spasms.^[17] Additionally, Hannes Grossmann left at the same time, citing his own interests in forming a separate band.^[17] Obscura then hired guitarist Tom Geldschläger and fusion drummer Sebastian Lanser of German jazz metal group Panzerballett.^[18] Obscura was scheduled to tour the US with the new line up as a part of the 2015 Summer Slaughter Tour, but despite early applications for visas they were unable to perform. Prior to releasing the band's fourth record "Akroasis" Obscura announced Munich Guitar Institute graduate Rafael Trujillo as their new permanent lead guitarist, replacing Geldschläger who was released from his duties by Kummerer as of July 2015. Rafael Trujillo studies Jazz at the Conservatory of the Amsterdam University of the Arts. Obscura embarked on the "Akroasis World Tour" in Rome, Italy at March 30th alongside Death DTA. A Summer tour visiting major festivals such as Graspop Metal Meeting, Hammersonic Festival, Metaldays and many more followed in July and August. On June 20th, Obscura announced their headlining European tour supported by Revocation, Beyond Creation and Rivers of Nihil. Obscura then performed as part of the "Akroasis World Tour" three shows in Mexico.

Philosophy

Founding member Kummerer devises the bands lyricism and imagery himself. Obscura's lyrics focus mainly on the writings of famous German philosophers. In describing these lyrics, Kummerer states:

Cosmogenesis started with the beginning of our existence, the big bang theory if you want to say so, and deals with different layers and synonyms on a philosophical basis. The second, Omnivium, takes part of the evolution in many different layers such as the basic ape to human thought, religious topics, how the human individuals evolve within their existence and uses as basic theme the novel On Nature’s Connection to the Spirit World by Friedrich Schelling.

The band's second release, Cosmogenesis, presented their interest in philosophy, which Kummerer describes as being influenced by the works of both Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, with Omnivium showing a shift in interests, and being based solely on the work of German philosopher Friedrich Schelling.^[6]

Band members

Current members

• Steffen Kummerer – vocals, guitars (2002–present)
• Linus Klausenitzer – bass (2011–present)
• Rafael Trujillo – guitars (2015–present)
• Sebastian Lanser – drums (2014–present)

Former members

• Armin Seitz – guitars (2002–04)
• Martin Ketzer – bass, vocals (2002–04)
• Jonas Baumgartl – drums (2002–2007)
• Stephan Bergbauer – guitars (2004)
• Markus Lempsch – guitars (2005–07)
• Jonas Fischer – bass (2005–07)
• Jeroen Paul Thesseling – bass (2007–11)
• Hannes Grossmann – drums (2007–14)
• Christian Muenzner – guitars (2008–14)
• Tom Geldschläger - guitars (2014-2015)

Touring musicians

• Ernst "Azmo" Wurdak – bass (2004)
• Jürgen Zintz – guitars (2004–2005)
• Andreas "Hank" Nusko – bass (2004–05)
• Gerd Pleschgatternig – bass (2005)
• Seraph – drums (2007)
• Johannes Rennig – guitars (2007)
• Jacob Schmidt – bass (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Steve DiGiorgio – bass (2010)
• Linus Klausenitzer – bass (2011)

Timeline

Discography

Demos

• Illegimitation (2003)

Studio Albums

• Retribution (2004)
• Cosmogenesis (2009)
• Omnivium (2011)
• Akróasis (2016)

Compilations

• Illegimitation (2012)

Books

• Obscura - Cosmogenesis - Official tablature (2010)
• Obscura - Omnivium - Official tablature (2012)
• Obscura - Guitar Anthology - Official tablature (2015)
• Obscura - Akroasis - Official tablature (2016)

Videoclips

• Anticosmic Overload (2009)
• Akróasis (2015)
• Ten Sepiroth (2016)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Obscura.

• Official Obscura Home Page
• Obscura at Relapse Records