While in the studio recording their new album, The Absence, the members of Luna Mortis decided to record a highly metallicized rendition of the Christmas classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Since the track won’t actually appear on the new album, they decided to let us pass it on to you… for free!

Luna Mortis vocalist Mary Zimmer explained the genesis of the track to us via e-mail:

What’s more metal than Christmas? A lot, actually. But, the suggestion from various people for us to tackle a ridiculous, guitar-laden, metal Christmas song had come many times, so finally we decided to do it. No vocals, we agreed, just ridiculous, shreddy, wanky & over the top. Brian [Koenig], our principal songwriter and shred master, wrote this hilarious, overdone rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and a few other popular holiday tunes layered in the middle of the song. We all thought it was great and tracked most of the song at my house. It was the first time we ever did anything like this, but we’re always messing around in our studio videos so it was only a matter of time before we recorded something like this. We hope you guys dig it and we wish you a very metal holiday season. Kick it Wisconsin style and crack some beer while you listen to this. Preferably a Wisconsin micro-brew. Go. Drink. Listen. Repeat. Metal.

-Mary Z

Stream the track below or download it here.

Luna Mortis, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

The Absence was produced by Jason Suecof, and will be released on Century Media on February 10.

-MetalSucks