Steffen Kummerer

Steffen Kummerer
Background information
Born	June 1, 1985 (age 39) Chemnitz, Saxony
Genres	Technical death metal Death metal Black metal
Occupation(s)	Musician Songwriter Producer Director
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, drums
Years active	2002-present
Website	www.steffenkummerer.com

Steffen Kummerer (born June 1, 1985) is a German guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Steffen is leader, main songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist of the death metal band Obscura as well as the black metal band Thulcandra in which he is the only remaining founding member. Since 2012 he has been a touring member of the band Death. Kummerer's Ran custom guitar shape have become a signature shape unique to him and his band Obscura.

Biography

Early life & Education

Steffen Kummerer was born in Chemnitz, Saxony, on 1 June 1985. He started playing keyboard at the age of 9 and later learned to play guitar, bass and drums. In addition, Kummerer has a degree as master of engineering in media technology, and received his graduate degree after the completion of the Omnivium record.

After studying Media Engineering at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology, he teaches audio & video production, design and photography at University of Applied Sciences, Landshut.

Professional career

In 2002 Steffen Kummerer begun to study guitar and founded the progressive death metal band Obscura. In 2003 he created the black metal group Thulcandra. Both bands received international respect, Obscura released three full length albums and one demo and gained worldwide recognition, Thulcandra released two full length and one demo up to date.

In 2009, the album Cosmogenesis was released via Relapse Records and cracked the US Newcomer Billboard. Two years later in 2011, Omnivium entered Billboard charts again and sold 2,000 records within the first week in the USA alone, and while the record also landed on the Germany's Newcomer Charts.

Steffen also produces various video clips and art. Best known examples include his work for the song "Anticosmic Overload" and graphic concepts for both of his bands. Since 2013 Steffen teaches audio & video production at Landshut University of Applied Sciences.

Equipment

Kummerer endorses RAN guitars, ENGL amplification, D'Addario, Planet Waves, Jericho Cases & tc electronic. Since 2003, he has played RAN custom built guitars exclusively in both 6-string and 7-string versions. All guitars he uses feature EMG pickups.

• 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
• RAN SK signature 6-string guitar (2014) with EMG 81 pickup

Discography

Obscura

• Illegimitation (Demo) - (2003)
• Retribution - (2006)
• Cosmogenesis - (2009)
• Omnivium - (2011)
• Illegimitation (Compilation) - (2012)

Thulcandra

• Perishness Around Us - (2004)
• Fallen Angel's Dominion - (2010)
• Under a Frozen Sun - (2011)
• Ascension Lost - (2015)

Guest/session appearances

• 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, Death (USA) - (2013 - 2014)

External links

• "OBSCURA, STEFFEN KUMMERER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!", SkullsNBones, March 25, 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