OBSCURA Frontman: 'A Tour Is Always Hard Work With Less Sleep Than You May Expect'

Patrick Prince of Powerline recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steffen Kummerer of German technical death metallers OBSCURA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Powerline: The band has been labeled "technical death metal." What has been your general reaction to that?

Kummerer: To describe a band and their certain sound, you need terms like that. In general, I would not see OBSCURA as a technical death metal band. We try to write good and memorable songs with diverse and uncommon arrangements. Also, compared to other bands of the genre, I see this band with a more broader background than only technique to show. From my point of view, progressive death metal would fit best, but in the end it does not matter how you label a band — the music is the only thing that counts.

Powerline: What does [new OBSCURA bassist] Linus Klausenitzer add to the band?

Kummerer: Linus is a professional bassist with a huge history of projects, from jazz to pop to classic to all extremes of metal music, and (he has) a pro attitude to everything he starts. We know each other since many years and especially his cooperation with the band NONEUCLID impressed me pretty much. NONEUCLID is basically a metal band that plays shows mostly with huge orchestras, one of the most interesting and unique bands on the planet. Linus proved his skills and social behaviour within a full European and North American tour during stressful situations and I am glad the band — as well as our fans — accepted him as new full-time member so quickly. The next step is his performance on the new album we are working on right now. He is fully integrated into the songwriting and the whole process to bring our vision to life.

Powerline: There have been many musicians come and go since OBSCURA started. Has that been frustrating or just a natural evolution?

Kummerer: It always was a combination of both mentioned. While we had plenty of musicians come and go within the first years what was more a natural thing, the last four or five years where very constant but those who had to leave were frustrating issues. Due to our collection of old recordings for our 10-year anniversary, I am in touch wih most of the old members again and there is not a single one who has any bad thoughts about that time. We are all looking back to the early days and can't be more glad that what we once started as a band among many others grew to an international respected and successful group. Without the natural evolution as well as the sometimes frustrating moments, we won't be here and do an interview together. I am glad and thankful to everyone who was involved in OBSCURA to make all this happen. Every single one brought his piece.

Powerline: What were the successes and disappointments of previous tours?

Kummerer: It depends what are you expectations on a tour in general. There is no red carpet anywhere, you will not get rich and this rock star dream does not exist if you look behind the walls. A tour is always hard work with less sleep than you may expect and sometimes frustrating circumstances. But you play for those who are interested in your music, what you are doing and if they are satisfied, have a good time and can go home with a good mood and smile on their face … the show or the whole tour is a success.

Powerline: Is the band writing new material for the next album? Will it be as ambitious as "Omnivium"?

Kummerer: We are collecting ideas for the next album; that is correct. But right now we are into the touring cycle for "Omnivium" and half way through our world tour for this album. Many more shows will be done before we head into the studio and start with the recordings.

Read the entire interview from Powerline.