Obscura

OBSCURA are one of Germany’s most influential extreme metal bands, known for redefining technical death metal through precision, melody, and forward-thinking composition. Founded in 2002 by guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer, the band have released seven critically acclaimed studio albums and performed over 800 shows across four continents.

With releases such as Cosmogenesis, Omnivium, Akróasis, Diluvium, and A Valediction, OBSCURA earned international recognition, high chart placements worldwide, and a reputation as a formidable live act. Their music bridges technical complexity with memorable songwriting, pushing the genre beyond established boundaries.

Their latest album A Sonication (Nuclear Blast) marks the second chapter of an ongoing conceptual trilogy. The album refines OBSCURA’s signature sound while expanding it with broader dynamics, modern production, and thematic depth. Mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman, A Sonication represents a new era for the band both musically and visually, with artwork by acclaimed artist Eliran Kantor.

Now touring worldwide as part of the A Sonication World Tour (2025–2027), OBSCURA continue to stand at the forefront of modern extreme metal, combining innovation, discipline, and intensity on stages around the globe.

Pestilence (official)

Cryptic Shift

DVRK

THUS

THUS is a melodic & progressive death metal outfit from Aarhus, Denmark. Formed in 2020 by frontman Frederik Jensen, THUS is a dedicated DIY band that emphasizes both songwriting and the detailed presentation of each track.

In May 2024, they fully released their EP "The Terminal Condition of Existence," which includes five singles, each accompanied by a music video and artwork created by Frederik Jensen. The EP also features drums recorded by the renowned drummer Sebastian Lanser, known for his work with bands like ex-Obscura, Obsidius, and Panzerballett.

THUS consists of Frederik Jensen on vocals & guitar, Tobias Hornstrup on guitar, Sebastian Skousgaard on bass and Daniel Nielsen on drums. Frederik Jensen acted as guitarist on the latest release Age of the Solipsist from the Copenhagen metal band Mother of All which features the world-renowned Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Obscura, Death) on bass. Tobias Hornstrup played guitar in Polars Collide and released in 2021 the record Grotesque, which received good reviews at home and abroad. In addition, he has been a guest guitarist on the Danish death metal band Crocell's latest album. In addition to being the bassist in Thus, Sebastian Skousgaard is guitarist in the band Chronicle from northern Denmark, which has released several albums and in 2021 released the EP Undivided. Sebastian also toured throughout Europe in 2022 with LIVLØS as a session bassist.

Pestilence

Pestilence were a death metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. Later they incorporated more jazz and fusion elements into their music. They released four albums before disbanding in order to pursue other musical directions in 1994. Pestilence started in the Netherlands in the mid 1986 as a thrash metal band. The lineup, consisting of Patrick Mameli (guitar, vocals), Randy Meinhard (guitar), and Marco Foddis (drums), recorded two demos before gaining the attention of Roadrunner Records. After the first demo, Martin van Drunen (bass, vocals) joined them. These two demos - Dysentery (1986) and The Penance (1987) - are raw, sounding mostly like a cross between Possessed and Schizophrenia-era Sepultura. After signing to Roadrunner Records, Pestilence released their debut album titled Malleus Maleficarum in 1988, further refining their approach to thrash metal. The new material was tighter and more focused than the demos. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Randy Meinhard left the band to pursue other musical goals in a new band named Sacrosanct. Meanwhile, Pestilence recruited a new guitar player by the name of Patrick Uterwijk. In 1989, the band released their second album Consuming Impulse, which was a turn toward to death metal. From a musical standpoint, things became heavier and more haunting. Vocally, Martin van Drunen moved away from cleaner vocals in favour of a more acidic growl. With its release, Pestilence gained international attention, highly regarded worldwide by death metal fans. But before a follow-up album was released, the lineup changed once again; vocalist and bassist Martin van Drunen departed to front Asphyx. Pestilence were faced again with the challenge of replacing a member, being without a vocalist and bassist. So while recording their third album Testimony Of The Ancients (1991), they enlisted bassist Tony Choy, who at the time was playing with the technical death metal band Cynic and Patrick Mameli took over the vocal duties. With this lineup, they released the album Testimony Of The Ancients. The new material was not as abrasive as the previous albums, but the band's musicianship has obviously grown and the album had the best production job of the band's catalogue. However, Tony Choy was never a permanent member, and ended up going back to Florida to eventually play with Atheist. In the meantime, Pestilence enlisted the talents of Jeroen Paul Thesseling. Over the years, the Pestilence members were getting into other forms of music, primarily jazz fusion which, the band wanted to pair with metal. The band's fourth and final album, Spheres was released in 1993. With every album, Pestilence went through some kind of a change and Spheres was no exception. Pestilence mixed jazz fusion elements into their death metal style, and used guitar synths throughout the album. Pestilence's popularity had risen with the release of each album, but unfortunately, so did tensions between the members. So after a short period of time, the band unanimously decided to split up, feeling they had reached their creative climax. In 1994, Roadrunner released one last CD from Pestilence: a best-of titled Mind Reflections, containing tracks from all four albums, plus the rare song "Hatred Within" (originally released on the Teutonic Invasion Part II compilation) and six unreleased live tracks recorded in at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in 1992. In 1998, Displeased Records re-released the debut album Malleus Maleficarum (which was originally never officially released in Europe), and included both demo recordings from 1986 and 1987. In 2006, Metal War Productions, working with Martin van Drunen, released Chronicles of the Scourge, containing two concert recordings and one unreleased bonus track. The two concerts are Live "Kix Festival" - Veghel, Holland (June 24, 1989) and Live Bochum, Germany (November 18, 1988). A bonus "rehearsal disc" was released with the first 1000 copies. PESTILENCE IS BACK!!! There is new line up: founder Patrick Mameli (vocals, guitar), well known Tony Choy (bass) and drummer Peter Wildoer (Darkane, Non-Human Level and others). Patrick is working on new great songs which style he describes as modern fusion of "Testimony..." and "Spheres", but even more technical (!!!) and more brutal. New album will be recorded by Jacob Hansen and produced by Patrick himself. As you see we all have a reason to live!

Obscura

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