Christian Münzner

Influences and style

Münzner's playing is built on neo-classical scales such as diminished, phrygian, and harmonic minor. He cites guitarists Tony MacAlpine, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, and John Petrucci as major influences. He also uses symmetric and exotic scales and endorses music theory for faster fretboard navigation. He wrote half the leads on Necrophagist's Epitaph, though he later felt his phrasing was overplayed.

Music

Münzner joined Necrophagist in 2002 and wrote the solos for the album Epitaph, including tracks like "Stabwound" and the title track. He left in 2006, citing tension within the band that "sucked out the fun of guitar playing"; Necrophagist attributed his departure to scheduling conflicts. He then joined Obscura, recording Cosmogenesis (2009) and Omnivium (2011), and played over 200 live shows with them. His main contributions were riffs and solos arranged by Hannes Grossmann; he wrote only one song on his own, "Universe Momentum".

He appeared in the music video for "Anticosmic Overload". He left Obscura before their fourth record due to focal dystonia, rejoined in 2020 for A Valediction, and left again in 2024 citing creative differences. In 2014 he co-founded Alkaloid, writing two songs for The Malkuth Grimoire, and left that band in 2024.

Focal dystonia

After recording Omnivium in 2011, Münzner was diagnosed with focal dystonia, which impaired coordination between his index and middle fingers. The disorder made the technical demands of his music impossible, forcing him to change his fingering and technique. Despite this, he continued writing music and touring with Obscura until his departure.

Did You Know?

• Münzner began playing guitar at age 11 and played his first live shows at age 12.
• He studied at the Munich Guitar Institute in 2001 with Wolfgang Zenk and Uli Wiedenhorn, graduating in 2002.
• He appeared in the music video for Obscura's single 'Anticosmic Overload'.