Author: Obscura

Five years since the release of the universally-acclaimed Omnivium, Germany’s progressive metal masters OBSCURA are poised to return with their strongest and most dynamic release to date. The aptly-named Akroasis (Greek for “hearing” or “listening“) draws on all the various elements of OBSCURA‘s signature sound and combines those qualities into a mind-blowing and cohesive whole.

Produced by the band and V. Santura (Triptykon, Pestilence), Akroasis is eight songs diverse enough to serve as a near-comprehensive introduction to all of extreme metal. Packed to the gills with virtuosic musicianship, compelling themes, and airtight songwriting, OBSCURA will undoubtedly breathe new life into death metal, progressive metal and beyond.

Tracklist:

1. Sermon of the Seven Suns
2. The Monist
3. Akroasis
4. Ten Sepiroth
5. Ode to the Sun
6. Fractal Dimension
7. Perpetual Infinity
8. Weltseele
9. On the Origin of Primal Expression (bonus track)

Worldwide Release: 5th of February 2016

“With „Akroasis“, Obscura produced their grand opus featuring eight songs of fluent arrangements, odd time rhythm patterns and the most high end production in the history of this band. Without question “Akroasis” became the heaviest complex record we made up to this day. We cannot wait to perform live again and bring this challenging music on stage around the globe.” – Steffen Kummerer

Obscura won’t be able to participate in this year’s Summer Slaughter due to visa issues. We started the visa process in April a few days after we confirmed the tour but it seems that US Immigration is a lottery to get a visa in time or not.

We lost all of our flights, our gear is in Los Angeles, our US crew lost their job for a whole month and the 3000 US$ we paid for visas are non-refundable. In total Obscura lost 15000 US$ with this stunt to be straight. This is an existential amount of money for a band of this size. And personally, I face this situation a second time after 2012’s Death DTA disaster.

We have been prepared, hired a professional agency to have all visas been applied for correctly and in time – starting in April. The immigration failed to file a necessary I-797 form (the final work permission) from June 3rd – this takes up to two weeks according to their official information but they did not even started at this point, so we won’t get an estimate when we can pick up our passports/visas. To clarify, if we would try to get into the country with a tourist visa or without a visa at all the band will get deported on our own costs and get banned from the United States for 10 years.

If we jump on the tour at a later point we will lose even more money since all of our gear, production and breakables arrived in Los Angeles two weeks ago. Also booking flights a second time costs us another 8000 US$. Our coach is based in Los Angeles and paying 1000 US$ per day until we finally would be able to enter the country would ruin the band completely.

It is a bitter, frustrating situation we, our loyal fan base and all promoters and agents have to face right now. We won’t give up and we will come back to the United States, but we have to drop off Summer Slaughter 2015.

Sincerely,
Steffen Kummerer

„Regrettably, we are unable to perform at Progstage Festival, Tel Aviv and Metaldays Festival, Slovenia this year. Our drummer Sebastian Lanser overstrung his left hand and suffers from a serious inflammation since then. Playing this complex music with this condition won’t allow us to play a tight 80 minute headlining show our fans and we as musicians demand.

We decided not to play a halfhearted set, instead we postpone both concerts and come back with an extended live show including songs of our new, upcoming album. Dates will be published soon.

In the meantime Alex Rüdinger (Conquering Dystopia) will step in to play this year’s Summer Slaughter festival tour in North America.” – Steffen Kummerer

Obscura’s Guitar Anthology features rhythm and lead guitars, live arrangements and liner notes to each song. The first edition, limited to 500 items, comes spiral bound and will be delivered with a free guitar pic and poster. Order your copy at realmofobscura.com.

Tracklist

Omnivium
Septuagint
Ocean Gateways
Velocity
Prismal Dawn

Cosmogenesis
Anticosmic Overload
Orbital Elements
Incarnated
Cosmogenesis

Retribution
Humankind
Alone
Hate Anthem
Exit Life

Illegimitation
Crucified
Fear