Well, here we are. The final door on the advent calendar has been swung open, the mince pies are all but gone, and we’ve reached the end of our 24 Songs of Christmas list for 2025. To close out the festivities, guitarist and composer Matt Miller has served up a proper festive treat that blends technical wizardry with a good dose of holiday cheer.
Miller’s latest release, “December, Joy of Man’s Suffering in the Holiday Spirit 2025”, takes a classic Bach composition and gives it a serious metal makeover. It’s a riff-driven reimagining that injects some high-energy flair into the traditional melody, perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of shred to their Christmas playlist.
The accompanying video is a bit of a laugh, too. Filmed with a tongue-in-cheek approach, it features various festive characters and a warm holiday atmosphere. Miller and his band are keen to point out that it’s all done in good fun, aiming to keep the mood light and mischievous while paying homage to a timeless piece of music.
Miller comments on the release:
This piece was all about having fun with something timeless. We wanted to take a Bach classic and give it a metal twist while keeping the holiday mood light, joyful, and a little mischievous.
It’s been a busy year for the guitarist, having released his first full-band album, Fiber Tormentum, back in September. Originally conceived as a solo instrumental project, the record evolved into a full-scale sci-fi concept album complete with vocals and contributions from the full lineup. Lyrically, it spins a yarn about alien invaders manipulating human DNA, while musically it’s a relentless mix of technical death metal, power metal, and symphonic elements.
Speaking about the ambition behind the album, Miller says:
We set out to make the best possible record that we could and push ourselves to our best performances. We never settled and always reached higher. We explored all options and left no stone unturned. Fiber Tormentum was the most ambitious project I had ever worked on… One of the key elements of the album is its human feel. Yes, we used some modern production techniques, but this album still retains its human element while remaining focused and airtight.
Whether you’re into classical crossovers or just fancy some technical death metal to see out the year, this latest video is well worth a watch. Raise a glass, crank up the volume, and have a cracking Christmas.
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Header image by Lilly May Everett
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