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 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 growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

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 t ...

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 German state of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden. It is the 28th largest city of Germany as well as the fourth largest city in the area of former East Germany a ...

(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 (french: À quatre mains, german: Zu vier Händen, Vierhändig, it, a quattro mani) is a type of piano duet involving two players playing the same piano simultaneously. A duet with the players playing separate instruments is ...

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 or is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. It is capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the state in the south of Germany. With more than 150,000 inhabitants, Regensburg is the f ...

. Under the guidance of

Georg Ratzinger Georg Ratzinger PA (15 January 19241 July 2020) was a German Catholic priest and musician, known for his work as the conductor of the Regensburger Domspatzen, the cathedral choir of Regensburg. He was the elder brother of the Pope Emeritus Be ...

and

Roland Büchner Roland Büchner (born 16 February 1954) is a German church musician and conductor. He has been the director (') at the Regensburg Cathedral, conducting the boys' choir Regensburger Domspatzen. Career Born in Karlstadt, Büchner studied at the ...

, 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, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The label was ...

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

Nuclear Blast Records Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label mov ...

, 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 and hard rock. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg. The label later ...

. 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 irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

, to replace their original singer and guitarist,

Chuck Schuldiner Charles Schuldiner (born May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He founded the death metal band Death in 1983, in which he was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter and only consistent member until his death in ...

. 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 working with numerous heavy metal bands such as Sadus (of whom he was one of the co-founders), Death, Testament, Megadeth, Sebastian Bach, Iced Earth, Autop ...

( Testament,

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 kno ...

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 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 Thing' ...

Devin Townsend Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, 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 heavy 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 metal. ...

Dethklok Dethklok is a fictional melodic death metal band featured in the Adult Swim animated television series ''Metalocalypse''. The first official Dethklok album was released on September 25, 2007, entitled ''The Dethalbum''. The album debuted at nu ...

and Testament),

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 dec ...

( Cynic),

Sean Reinert Sean Reinert (May 27, 1971 – January 24, 2020) was an American musician. He was the drummer for the rock band Æon Spoke and the drummer and founding member of the progressive metal band Cynic (band), Cynic until leaving the band in Septemb ...

( Cynic) and

Bobby Koelble Bobby Koelble (born September 15, 1968) is an American guitarist who performs in the death metal, blues, funk and jazz genres, and as a freelance studio musician. He is probably best known for his performances with the death metal band Death. Th ...

. In 2015, Kummerer received a Metal Hammer Award in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

as representative to the late

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

Mike Keneally Michael Joseph Keneally (born December 20, 1961) is an American session guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Early years and musical influences Keneally started playing music at the age of 7 when he received an electric organ for h ...

(

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...

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 guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...

Jen Majura Jennifer Majura Indrasen (born 16 June 1983) is a German musician. She was the rhythm guitarist for American rock band Evanescence from 2015 to 2022. Biography Majura was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, and started in music at the age of s ...

(

Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer and musician Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording independent EPs as a duo in the late 90's, and a demo CD, Evanescence released their debut s ...

) 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 Bass guitar, basses. They are based in both Tokyo and Los Angeles, with distinct product lines for each market. ESP Company manufactures instruments ...

, ENGL amplification,

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

Ernie Ball Ernie Ball (born Roland Sherwood Ball; August 30, 1930 – September 9, 2004) was an American entrepreneur and musician who developed guitar-related products. Ball began as a club and local television musician and entrepreneur, building an inte ...

Sennheiser Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG (, ) is a German privately held audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephone accessories and aviation headse ...

, 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, Audio mixing, mix, and Audio mastering, master music and other audio. This inc ...

EMG Pickups EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California that manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Among guitar and bass accessories, the company sells active humbucker pickups, such as the EMG 81, the EMG 85 ...

, 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 ...

speakers &

TC Electronic TC Electronic (sometimes stylized as t.c. electronic) is a Danish audio equipment company that designs and imports guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post-pro ...

. 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 The EMG 81 is a popular active humbucker guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc. It is usually considered a lead pickup for use in the bridge position, paired with EMG's 85 as a rhythm pickup in neck position (Zakk Wylde is famous for this configu ...

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 ''Illegimitation'' is a compilation album released by German Technical Death Metal band Obscura. It was independently released by the band via crowdfunding. Album information ''Illegimitation'' is a compilation of the band's first demo of the ...

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

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

'' - (2009) *''

Omnivium ''Omnivium'' is the third studio album released by German death metal band Obscura, and the second album of Obscura's four album concept. The album was recorded at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer Victor Bullok (also known as ...

- (2011) *''

(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)

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)

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 Secrets of the Moon were a black metal band from Osnabrück, Germany, founded in 1995. Biography Secrets of the Moon were founded in 1995.Cosmogenesis Cosmogony is any model concerning the origin of the cosmos or the universe. Overview Scientific theories In astronomy, cosmogony refers to the study of the origin of particular astrophysical objects or systems, and is most commonly used i ...

'' - Official Tablature Book (2010) * ''

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

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

'' - Official Tablature Book (2018) *''A Valediction'' - Official Tablature Book (2021)

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)

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 guitarists 21st-century German male musicians 1985 births German guitarists German male guitarists Living people Obscura (band) members Rhythm guitarists Seven-string guitarists