Shred Fest, a package bringing together some of the wildest and most technical acts in extreme metal, will make a single stop in Poland at the end of January! On January 25th, Obscura will headline the stage at Proxima in Warsaw, joined by legendary Pestilence, the UK’s cosmic force Cryptic Shift, Denmark’s progressive Thus, and France’s DVRK.
A quarter of a century has passed since Steffen Kummerer founded Obscura - a band that has since carved its way to the very top of progressive and technical death metal. While influences like Gorguts are evident, the German outfit also draws from the melodic sensibilities of the Gothenburg scene. Obscura combine precision with intensity, all while maintaining a surprising sense of catchiness. Sounds like a difficult balance? On last year’s Nuclear Blast release “A Sonication,” they prove it comes naturally to them.
Formed in 1986, Pestilence earned their status as legends of European death metal with late ’80s and early ’90s classics like “Malleus Maleficarum,” “Consuming Impulse,” and “Testimony of the Ancients.” Led by Patrick Mameli, the band initially fused death metal with thrash before incorporating progressive elements into their sound. Their latest album, “Levels of Perception,” was released in 2024.
Hailing from Leeds, Cryptic Shift have been active for 15 years (spending their first five under the name Crÿptic Shift). They broke through with their debut full-length “Visitations from Enceladus,” but 2025 is shaping up to be their defining year thanks to “Overspace & Supertime,” released via Metal Blade Records. Often compared to Blood Incantation, they’re not riding any trend - this is pure, genuine passion. Cryptic Shift operate in their own galaxy, and early next year, they’ll take you with them.
The newest act on the bill is Thus, a progressive death metal band from Aarhus, formed in 2020. Four years later, they released their debut EP “The Terminal Condition of Existence” and won the Wacken Metal Battle.
Opening the night will be France’s DVRK, arguably the most modern-sounding act in the lineup. Their deathcore is packed with brutality, massive breakdowns, and a willingness to incorporate electronic elements.
