German prog-metal favorites Obscura just launched their first headlining tour of North America.

The band is out in support of 'Omnivium,' their latest album for Relapse Records. Since Obscura are known for their acrobatic guitar work and challenging time signatures, Noisecreep asked guitarist/vocalist Steffen Kummerer before the trek started if he worried about the physical demands of the longer sets.

"It's definitely tough when you aren't touring with a crew and you have to be out there selling merch a few minutes before you're about to perform. You need to have time to warm up on your instrument and mentally prepare yourself for what you're about to do. We're really excited to be headlining this tour because we'll be able to play 80-90 minutes, depending on the night. That makes it easier because when we're opening for someone else, it usually takes a few songs for us to get really warmed up," Kummerer tells Noisecreep.

Noisecreep also asked the frontman if he worries that all of Obscura's tech-heavy arrangements will be too much for the crowd to handle for a longer period of time.

"We've thought about that already and I don't think it will be a problem. We're playing a few songs that are slower, so that people can catch their breaths. It's also good for us as musicians to play those songs so we could calm down a bit," laughs Kummerer.


Watch Obscura's 'Septuagint' Video


It's no secret that Obscura – along with bands like Cynic and Meshuggah – are revered in musician circles for their undeniable playing chops. "We got a lot of musicians at our shows and they are really interested in the kind of gear we play and that stuff. But they usually approach my band mates instead of me. Our fans usually just think I'm the tour bus driver or merch guy [laughs]. Either way, we love talking to our fans about that stuff. We try and meet all of our fans on tour. I appreciate them."

Obscura just announced their first ever demo collection, entitled 'Illegimitation' which will be released independently by the band this March. The collection will include ten never-before-heard tracks, including the band's earliest recordings from 2003, unreleased songs from the 'Cosmogenesis' sessions of 2006, and brand new cover songs with the newest line-up from 2011.

Obscura North American tour with support from Abysmal Dawn, Last Chance to Reason (Nov. 4 -25), Enfold Darkness (Nov. 28 - Dec. 7)

Nov. 9 Joliet, IL Mojoe's

Nov. 10 St Paul, MN Station 4

Nov. 11 Winnipeg, MB The Zoo

Nov. 13 Saskatoon, SK Louis' Pub

Nov. 14 Edmonton, AB Pawn Shop

Nov. 15 Calgary, AB The Distillery

Nov. 16 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theater

Nov. 17 Portland, OR Branx

Nov. 18 Seattle, WA Studio Seven

Nov. 20 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge

Nov. 21 Hollywood, CA Key Club

Nov. 22 Sanat Ana, CA The Constellation Room @ The Galaxy Theater

Nov. 23 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse

Nov. 25 Denver, CO The Marquis Theater

Nov. 27 Tulsa, OK The Marquee Theater

Nov. 28 Dallas, TX The Rail Club

Nov. 29 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit

Nov. 30 Houston, TX Warehouse Live

Dec. 2 Lake Worth, FL Propaganda

Dec. 3 Tampa, FL Brass Mug

Dec. 4 Orlando, FL Firestone Live

Dec. 5 Atlanta, GA Masquerade

Dec. 6 Richmond, VA Kingdom

Dec. 7 Baltimore, MD Sonar

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