OBSCURA completes 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, OBSCURA established its reputation by 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.

Drummer DAVID DIEPOLD joins OBSCURA

The Austrian virtuoso drummer David Diepold (BENIGHTED, HATE, BELPHEGOR, GIVE EM BLOOD, COGNIZANCE) known for his highly technical signature playing in extreme metal, has joined the German progressive death metallers OBSCURA as a permanent member. He collaborated internationally with several groups as session player and is also working as drum teacher. Diepold appeared on COGNIZANCE‘s first full-length album “Malignant Dominion” (2019) among other recordings.

‘Being asked to join OBSCURA was definitely a dream come true! You know, I’m at a point in my musical career, where I tend to say, that the countless hours in my rehearsal room are finally starting to pay off. Especially over the last five or six years, applications from bands and musicians continuously got more professional and collaborating with those artists all helped a lot to improve my drumming skills and to grow as a musician. I will do my absolute best to recreate Hannes’ and Sebastian’s parts in the context of our live performances but most of all, I’m looking forward to write new material with such outstanding musicians!‘, says David.

Founded in 2002, OBSCURA established its reputation by 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.

Video and photo credit: Manuel Diepold

Fretless bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling rejoins OBSCURA

Legendary bass player Jeroen Paul Thesseling (QUADVIUM, SALAZH TRIO, ex-PESTILENCE) has rejoined the German progressive death metallers OBSCURA as a permanent member after a 9-year break. Thesseling, known for his signature fretless playing in death metal and world-fusion, joined OBSCURA in 2007 and recorded the band’s critically acclaimed full-length albums “Cosmogenesis” (2009) and “Omnivium” (2011), both released via Relapse Records.

“Perhaps fans are somewhat surprised about my comeback. After leaving OBSCURA in 2011, we stayed in touch and over the years I’ve visited some of their concerts. Since the departure my main focus has been on exploring 7-string bass guitar and playing different genres. It’s really nice to be back in the fold, being involved again in the writing process, collaborating on material for the upcoming sixth studio album and to prepare for intensive touring. We expect to announce a completion of the group’s new line-up on short notice”, says Jeroen.

Thesseling, who has been touring the world, also recorded PESTILENCE‘s fourth and sixth studio albums, “Spheres” (1993) and “Doctrine” (2011). Late 2017 he released the debut work “Circulations” with the jazz-fusion group SALAZH TRIO, featuring legendary drummer Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernández. In 2019 Jeroen founded the fusion-world-metal group QUADVIUM with fellow fretless bassist Steve Di Giorgio (TESTAMENT, SADUS, DEATH). QUADVIUM is currently working on their debut album.

Further information can be found at www.jeroenpaulthesseling.com

OBSCURA joins forces with Angela Gossow’s KULT MANAGEMENT

We are excited to announce a major change in the OBSCURA management. With immediate effect Jan-Ole Lamberti of KULT MANAGEMENT takes over all management activities for OBSCURA.

Steffen Kummerer comments: “We are glad about the collaboration with Jan-Ole and KULT MANAGEMENT. We know each other for a long time and since we’ve teamed up, a lot of great things are already on the way. With this extremely professional management support we’re able to focus on music, songwriting and recording for 100%. This is a significant step ahead in the band’s history!”

Jan-Ole Lamberti comments: “With OBSCURA we’re taking over the management for one of the most talented and sophisticated death metal bands around. With their very unique style of progressive extreme metal, five critically acclaimed albums and four world tours they’ve become an integral part of today’s death metal scene. Their latest album DILUVIUM truly marks a new level in the band’s career and now we’re looking forward to bring this band to the fore!”

KULT MANAGEMENT is based in Germany and was founded by the first lady of extreme metal and former Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow. The company is also featuring leading bands of the genre like Arch Enemy and Amaranthe.