MetalSucks

If you enjoy melodic death-tinged power metal – and really, who doesn’t? – then it’s hard to imagine that you won’t enjoy Luna Mortis’ Century debut, The Absence. This shit is heavy, infectious, and epic as all get-out.

A big part of the reason why the album works is vocalist Mary Zimmer. A classically trained singer who once had aspirations of doing opera, Zimmer put to shame all the over-processed, auto-tuned vocalists that will inevitably let their fans down in a live setting. Her voice isn’t only powerful – it’s undeniably real.

Luna Mortis have just released a new, David Brodsky-directed video for the song “Forever More,” which you can watch above. They’ve also just hit the road with Edguy and Epicurean. You can get a complete tour itinerary here; then, after the jump, read my chat with Zimmer regarding all things metal. Raaaaar.

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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