OBSCURA: Steffen Kummerer Talks Australian Shredfest Tour with Fallujah & Future Plans

·29 min·2 clips

Steffen Kummerer reveals how Obscura's Shredfest tour packages old-school death metal with Fallujah's melancholic vibe and local Australian bands.

The episode features an interview with Steffen Kummerer, guitarist and vocalist of the German technical death metal band Obscura, hosted by Nev Pearce from the Gold Coast. Kummerer, calling from Munich, discusses Obscura's upcoming Shredfest tour in Australia and New Zealand, set for September, which includes Fallujah and Australian bands Ashen and Enoxia. He explains that Shredfest is an annual touring festival moving continents each year, designed to showcase a mix of death metal subgenres and provide a platform for emerging bands. Kummerer recalls previous tours in Australia, including a 2019 visit and a festival show, noting the band hopes to explore more of the country this time. The host and Kummerer share anecdotes about mutual connections, such as the Australian band Alarum, which toured with Obscura years ago and remains in touch. Kummerer details Obscura's approach to setlists, aiming to include songs from each album and avoid repetition, even playing new tracks live for the first time. He contrasts this with a past tour where they considered adjusting their set but decided to stay true to their sound. The conversation shifts to European festivals like Hellfest, which Kummerer describes as massive, week-long camping events with tens of thousands of attendees, differing from typical indoor tours. He recommends visiting such festivals for their unique vibe. Kummerer also talks about the Hamasonic festival in Indonesia, which the host aspires to play. When asked about younger musicians, Kummerer reflects on the proliferation of online guitar covers and tablature, noting over a thousand fan covers of Obscura songs exist. He compares this to his own learning experience pre-internet, where mistakes led to original techniques. Kummerer emphasizes the social benefits of playing music with friends. Looking ahead, he reveals Obscura's 'Sonication' world tour extends through 2028, with upcoming runs in the US, Asia, and Europe, delaying new album writing until next year to avoid burnout. The episode concludes with light-hearted banter about Australian beer and plans to meet in Brisbane.

As heard by us

A tour-focused chat about setlists, honesty, and why Obscura keeps the live show moving.

The conversation stays close to the practical side of Obscura's live setup, from the Australia and New Zealand run with Fallujah to the reminder that it has been a while since the band last played there.

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Why you'd press play

You get Steffen Kummerer talking from Munich about the Australia and New Zealand run, not a polished press-tour speech.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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