Steffen Kummerer (born 1 June 1985) is a German guitarist and vocalist. He is the leader, main songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist of the

death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...

band Obscura, as well as the

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

band Thulcandra. Since 2012, he has been a member of the official tribute band Death to All. Kummerer's Ran custom guitar shape have become a signature shape unique to him and his band Obscura.

Biography

Early life and education

Steffen Kummerer was born in

Chemnitz Chemnitz (; from 1953 to 1990: Karl-Marx-Stadt (); ; ) is the third-largest city in the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden, and the fourth-largest city in the area of former East Germany after (East Be ...

(Karl-Marx-Stadt then) on 1 June 1985. He started playing piano at the age of nine and received a scholarship for gifted musicians one year later. Kummerer studied singing solo, in a choir, and performing solo pieces and

Piano four hands Piano four hands (, , ) is a type of piano duet involving two players playing the same piano simultaneously. A duet with the players playing separate instruments is generally referred to as a ''piano duet, piano duo''.Bellingham, Jane"piano du ...

at the boarding school of world-known

Regensburger Domspatzen The Regensburger Domspatzen (literally: Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows) is the cathedral choir at the Regensburg Cathedral in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. The boys' choir dates back to 975, and consists of boys and young men only. They perform in ...

, the world's oldest choir in

Regensburg Regensburg (historically known in English as Ratisbon) is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Naab and Regen (river), Regen, Danube's northernmost point. It is the capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the ...

. Under the guidance of

Georg Ratzinger Georg Ratzinger PA (15 January 19241 July 2020) was a German Catholic priest, Cast Film, Soap Opera Actor, Comedian, and musician, known for his work as the conductor of the Regensburger Domspatzen, the cathedral choir of Regensburg. He was ...

and Roland Büchner, Kummerer achieved a broad understanding of music theory and performing concerts. At the age of 16, he learned to play guitar and founded the death metal band Obscura in late 2002.

Career

In 2002, Kummerer begun to study electric guitar and founded the death metal band Obscura. The band released six full-length records with world-wide chart entries through American-based label

Relapse Records Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The ...

, before the band signed to the world's biggest heavy metal label,

Nuclear Blast Records Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...

, in 2019. Respected by press and fans alike, Obscura became one of the most popular bands in their genre. In 2003, Kummerer created the black metal band Thulcandra which released four full-length albums through Austrian major label

Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal, hard rock and folk/folk rock/folk metal. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach a ...

. Supporting their albums, the band performed multiple tours in Europe and reached a cult status in the genre

. In 2012, Kummerer became a member of "Death to All", the official tribute act to American death metal pioneers

Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

, to replace their original singer and guitarist,

Chuck Schuldiner Charles Michael Schuldiner (May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He cofounded the pioneering Florida death metal band Death in 1983, in which he was the guitarist, primary songwriter and only continuous member until his ...

. With "Death to All", Kummerer toured in Europe, Central and South America alongside former members

Steve DiGiorgio Steve Di Giorgio (born November 7, 1967) is an American bass guitarist. He is known for his work with numerous heavy metal bands such as Sadus (of which he was a co-founder), Death, Testament, Megadeth, Sebastian Bach, Iced Earth, Autopsy, Obit ...

(

Testament A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller no ...

Sadus Sadus is an American thrash metal band from Antioch, California, active from 1985 to 2015, and reunited in 2017. Originally a quartet, the band's sound fuses thrash metal with death metal, featuring highly technical musicianship. They are know ...

Gene Hoglan Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...

( Dark Angel,

Strapping Young Lad Strapping Young Lad (SYL) was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy ...

Devin Townsend Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He founded extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad and was its primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist from 1994 to 2007. He has also ...

Fear Factory Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of industrial met ...

, Dethklok and

Paul Masvidal Paul Albert Masvidal (born January 20, 1971) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive metal band Cynic (band), Cynic. He has remained a continual member in Cynic for nearly three decad ...

( Cynic), Sean Reinert ( Cynic) and Bobby Koelble. In 2015, Kummerer received a Metal Hammer Award in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

as representative to the late

, who died in 2001. In 2017, a collaboration with Panzerballett under direction of Jan Zehrfeld featuring Mike Keneally (

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...

Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American rock music, rock guitarist, composer, and songwriter. Early in hi ...

), Jen Majura (

Evanescence Evanescence is an American Rock music, rock band founded in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. After releasing independent extended play, EPs and a Origin (Evanescence demo album), demo ...

) and Mattias IA Eklundh was released. Kummerer produced various music videos "Anticosmic Overload", "Akroasis", "Ten Sepiroth", graphic concepts, books and stage productions for various artists. In 2018, he starred in several music productions, such as "Mortification of the Vulgar Sun", "Diluvium" and "Emergent Evolution".

Equipment

Kummerer endorses

ESP Guitars is a Japanese guitar manufacturer, primarily focused on the production of electric guitars and basses. They are based in both Tokyo and Los Angeles, with distinct product lines for each market. ESP Company manufactures instruments under sever ...

, ENGL amplification,

Steinberg Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH (trading as Steinberg; ) is a German musical software and hardware company based in Hamburg. It develops software for writing, recording, arranging and editing music, most notably Cubase, Nuendo, and Dorico. It ...

, Ernie Ball, Sennheiser, Richter Straps,

Presonus PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. (often known and styled as PreSonus) is an American manufacturer of professional audio equipment and software, used to create, record, mix, and master music and other audio. This includes their line of digital a ...

, EMG Pickups, Jericho Gehäuse, Scott Dixon, Arobas software,

Celestion Celestion is a British designer and exporter of professional loudspeakers. History Origins What became Celestion was started in Hampton Wick (suburban London) in 1924. Cyril French and his three brothers had taken over a plating works and ...

speakers & TC Electronic. Between 2003 and 2017, he has played RAN custom built guitars exclusively in both 6-string and 7-string versions with the iconic Obscura shape.

2003–2017 Ran Guitars

* RAN SK signature 6-string guitar (2003) with EMG 81 pickup * RAN SK signature 7-string guitar (2010) with EMG 707 pickup * RAN SK signature 7-string guitar (2011) with EMG 81-7 pickup

since 2017 ESP Guitars

* ESP Japan Custom SK 7-string guitar (2020) * ESP Japan Custom MII 7-string guitar (2017) * ESP Japan EII Horizon 7-string guitar (2017) *ESP Japan EII Arrow 7-string guitar (2017) * ESP Japan EII Flying-V 6-string guitar (2017) * ESP Japan EII Eclipse 6-string guitar (2013)

Discography

Obscura

*'' Illegimitation (Demo)'' - (2003) *'' Retribution'' - (2006) *''

Cosmogenesis Cosmogony is any model concerning the origin of the cosmos or the universe. Overview Scientific theories In astronomy, cosmogony is the study of the origin of particular astrophysical objects or systems, and is most commonly used in ref ...

'' - (2009) *'' Omnivium'' - (2011) *'' Illegimitation (Compilation)'' - (2012) * '' Akróasis'' - (2016) * ''

Diluvium Diluvium is an archaic term applied during the 1800s to widespread surficial deposits of sediments that could not be explained by the historic action of rivers and seas. Diluvium was initially argued to have been deposited by the action of extra ...

'' - (2018) *'' A Valediction'' - (2021) *''A Celebration I - Live in North America (Live album)'' - (2023) *'' A Sonication -'' (2025)

Thulcandra

*''Perishness Around Us'' - (2004) *''Fallen Angel's Dominion'' - (2010) *''Under a Frozen Sun'' - (2011) *''Ascension Lost'' - (2015) *''A Dying Wish'' - (2021) *''The Great Shadow EP'' - (2021) *''Hail The Abyss'' - (2023) *''Black Sun Aeon EP'' - (2023) *''Live Demise'' - (2024)

Guest/session appearances

*guest vocals on Persefone (Andorra) ''Metanoia'' - (2022) *guest vocals on Panzerballett (Germany) ''X-Mas Death Jazz'' - (2017) *guest solo on Stortregn (Switzerland) ''Singularity'' - (2016) *guest solo on Mynded (Germany) ''Nuclear Downfall'' - (2015) *guest solo on Wraithcult (Germany) ''Gestalt'' - (2013) *guest solo on Over Your Threshold (Germany) ''Facticity'' - (2012) *guest vocals on Pequod (Germany) ''Forgotten'' - (2011) *guest vocals on Hokum (Germany) ''The Creation of Pain'' (2011) *guest solo on Disdained (Serbia) ''The Last Opus EP'' - (2010)

Live/session appearances

*bass, Black Horizons (Germany) - (2003-2004) *guitar, Festering Saliva (Germany) - (2005-2006) *guitar, Helfahrt (Germany) - (2006-2007) *vocals & guitar,

(USA) - (2012 - present) *bass, Secrets of the Moon (Germany) - (2016) *vocals, Cynic (USA) - (2024) *bass, Sacramentum (Sweden) - (2025)

Books

* Obscura - ''

'' - Official Tablature Book (2010) * Obscura - '' Omnivium'' - Official Tablature Book (2012) * Obscura - ''Guitar Anthology'' - Official Tablature Book (2015) *

- Best of 1987 - 1998, Official Tablature Book (2015) * Obscura - '' Akróasis'' - Official Tablature Book (2016) * Obscura - ''

'' - Official Tablature Book (2018) *Obscura - '' A Valediction'' - Official Tablature Book (2021) *Thulcandra -''The Essentials of Thulcandra'' - Official Tablature Book (2023) * Thulcandra - Fallen Angel‘s Dominion, The Complete Guitar and Bass Transcription (2024) * Thulcandra - Under A Frozen Sun, The Complete Guitar and Bass Transcription (2024) *Obscura - A Sonication - Official Guitar & Bass Tablature Book (2025)

Videography

* ''Anticosmic Overload'' - Official Music Video (2009) * '' Akróasis'' - Official Music Video (2015) * ''Ten Sepiroth'' - Official Music Video (2016) * ''

'' - Official Music Video (2018) * ''Mortification of the Vulgar Sun'' - Official Music Video (2018) * ''Emergent Evolution'' - Official Music Video (2019) * ''Solaris'' - Official Music Video (2021) * ''A Valediction'' - Official Music Video (2021) * ''Funeral Pyre'' - Official Music Video (2021) *''Nocturnal Heresy'' - Official Music Video (2021) * ''Devoured Usurper'' - Official Music Video (2021) * ''When Stars Collide'' - Official Music Video (2021) *''A Dying Wish'' - Official Music Video (2021) *''The Neuromancer'' - Official Music Video (2022) *''Heritage'' - Official Music Video (2022) *''As I Walk Through The Gateway'' - Official Music Video (2023) *''Hail The Abyss'' - Official Music Video (2023) *''Silver Linings'' - Official Music Video (2024) *''Evenfall'' - Official Music Video (2025) *''In Solitude'' - Official Music Video (2025)

References

External links

"OBSCURA, STEFFEN KUMMERER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!"
''SkullsNBones'', 25 March 2011
Obscura frontman Steffen Kummerer talks Omnicium"
''Metal Underground'', Ty Arthur
"OBSCURA Interview with Steffen Kummerer"
''Xplosive Metal'', March 2011, Caroline Restiaux
Steffen Kummerer's (Obscura) Top 5 Swedish Death/Black Metal Albums
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kummerer, Steffen 21st-century German guitarists 21st-century German male musicians 1985 births Death metal musicians German guitarists German male guitarists Living people Obscura (band) members Rhythm guitarists Seven-string guitarists