For more than two decades Obscura have remained one of the most technically ambitious forces in extreme metal. Blending progressive songwriting, precision musicianship and philosophical depth, the German outfit led by guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer continues to push the boundaries of modern death metal.
With the band’s latest album A Sonication continues that evolution, Obscura are preparing to return to Australia and New Zealand this September as part of Shred Fest 2026, a travelling extreme metal showcase designed to highlight some of the most technically gifted acts in the genre.
For Kummerer, Shred Fest represents something more than a typical touring package. The concept was developed as a travelling festival built around technical musicianship and the wider death metal community.
The first edition launched in North America, and the upcoming Australian run marks the next step in expanding the idea globally.
Rather than focusing solely on the international headliners, the band have been deliberate in creating a lineup that brings together artists from across the scene. The tour will feature Obscura alongside American progressive death metal outfit Fallujah, with Australian bands Ashen and Anoxia joining the bill and additional special guests appearing across different cities.
For Kummerer, that community focus is central to what Shred Fest is meant to represent. Supporting the entire lineup, from the opening band to the headliner, is something he believes has always been essential to the health of the underground metal scene.
“From first to last band it’s a full evening of death metal and shred,” he explains. “If you want to support underground death metal, support every band.”
That attitude reflects the same grassroots ethos that helped Obscura grow from a young project formed in Germany into one of the most respected names in technical death metal. Across more than twenty years, the band has built its reputation through relentless touring, ambitious songwriting and a willingness to continually evolve.
Their latest album A Sonication continues that journey. While unmistakably Obscura in sound and structure, the record explores broader dynamics and textures that have translated strongly into the band’s live performances.
Songs such as the opening track and the atmospheric single “Evenfall” have already proven particularly powerful on stage, bringing a fresh sense of energy to the setlist. According to Kummerer, the response from audiences around the world has been overwhelmingly positive.
The success of the record has even inspired the band to experiment with performing the album in full at select shows internationally.
But while massive festival stages and global touring remain part of the band’s reality, Kummerer still finds something uniquely special about the raw energy of club shows.
Large festivals provide scale, spectacle and production, but smaller venues offer a different kind of connection. In those intimate environments the performance relies purely on the band, the music and the audience in front of them.
For a group like Obscura, whose music demands both precision and intensity, that stripped back atmosphere can be just as rewarding as playing the world’s biggest metal festivals.
The upcoming Australian and New Zealand run also represents something of a redemption after the band’s last visit to the region. Their previous trip was brief, consisting of only a festival appearance and a single side show.
This time the band are determined to experience far more of the region.
The Shred Fest tour will take Obscura well beyond the typical touring circuit, visiting cities including Perth, Darwin and Hobart alongside the usual capitals, as well as multiple shows across New Zealand.
For Kummerer and the rest of the band, the opportunity to explore more of the region while bringing extreme metal to new audiences is a major part of the excitement.
After more than two decades leading Obscura, however, the most important lesson Kummerer has taken from the band’s journey is a simple one: perseverance.
Throughout their career the band have faced the same obstacles and setbacks that every touring artist encounters, from cancelled tours and visa issues to the countless logistical challenges that come with global touring.
Yet through it all, Obscura have continued to push forward.
For Kummerer, that determination is what he remains most proud of.
After twenty four years of writing, recording and touring with the band, he sees Obscura as an ongoing journey rather than a finished story.
And if the band’s ambitions have anything to say about it, that journey is far from over.
As Kummerer puts it simply:
“Bring your friends, have a good time and leave the show with a big smile on your face.”
SHRED FEST 2026 – AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Prepare your necks and brace your ears. Shred Fest 2026 will storm across Australia and New Zealand this September, delivering an unmatched celebration of technical excellence, intensity and musical precision.
This year’s edition features two of the most acclaimed names in modern extreme metal:
Obscura (GER)
Progressive death metal pioneers and masters of technical virtuosity, returning to present their latest album A Sonication as part of their ongoing world tour.
Fallujah (USA)
The visionary force of progressive and atmospheric technical death metal, set to unleash their transcendental soundscapes across southern shores.
Joining the international lineup are two powerful Australian acts:
Ashen (Perth) – Crushing death doom steeped in atmosphere and groove
Anoxia (Sydney) – Old school death metal aggression and riff driven fury
Additional special guests will appear in each city.
TOUR DATES
03 Sep – Perth – Rosemount Hotel
04 Sep – Adelaide – Lion Arts Factory
05 Sep – Brisbane – Soapbox
09 Sep – Canberra – The Baso
10 Sep – Sydney – Manning Bar
11 Sep – Melbourne – The Corner Hotel
13 Sep – Darwin – The Amphitheatre
15 Sep – Auckland – Whammy
16 Sep – Wellington – Valhalla
17 Sep – Christchurch – Churchills Tavern
19 Sep – Hobart – Altar
Tickets available via
https://www.shredfest.net
https://www.yourmatebookings.com
