Another new song from Me and That Man, the dark folk side project spearheaded by Behemoth visionary Nergal, is an unlikely Christmas tune which confronts sexual abuse within the church, presented as an animated video.

While the subject matter is obscenely dark — a boy once abused by a priest enacts revenge as a Satanic anti-hero who torches a church — the song itself has an upbeat jangle thanks to the emotive guest contribution from singer Mat McNerney (Grave Pleasures, ex-Beastmilk, Hexvessel).

"If someone would have told me one day, I’d release a Xmas song, I would have burst into laughter. Hell freezes over and I present to you, 'Burning Churches,'" Nergal stated. "This time I team up with Mat McNerney from the legendary Beastmilk, Grave Pleasures, DHG and Hexvessel. Make yourself comfortable around the Christmas tree, stoke the fire and grab yourself a drink! Hallelujah."

Read the lyrics to "Burning Churches" directly below and watch the animated video further down the page.

That night I saw the flames flicker on the television set The vicar’s tears fell as he faced the camera men
And my mother grabbed her crucifix
And drew in her breath

“It’s suspected arson” the newsreader said

My life was reborn into that incendiary darkness
It brought to mind the great writers of satanic verses From that truth my eyes glowed with unholy illumination From the matchstick spark until the final glowing embers

I’m called by the light Of burning churches I’m saved by the light Of burning churches

I was always the altar boy and never a thief Part of the choir and friends with the priest

But it all changed when those prayer books went up in flames Childhood on fire consumed in the blaze

Now I smoke all my opportunities right down to the filter
I don’t regret a single fucking moment of my future
I know the devil better than myself
And there’s no good fun in heaven cause I’m down here raising hell

Called by the light
Of burning churches I’m saved by the light Of burning churches

There’s plenty of things that should be left unsaid So I’ll drink some more whiskey and say them again My life is this war against their words
Slaves to salvation and the prayers of the lord
I’ll take up my seat next to Anton La Vey
With a Molotov cocktail and a can of gasoline Ashes up to heaven
Beautiful destruction
I grew up by that light
I was raised by the light

BURN BURN BURN x7 Burning Churches!

Called by the light
Of burning churches I’m saved by the light Of burning churches

Called by the light
Of burning churches I’m saved by the light Of burning churches

Despite this song being the second new single from Me and That Man (the first was "Run With the Devil"), Nergal has yet to express any plans for the band to release a second full length album. Songs of Love and Death, the debut album from the project, was released in 2017.

Me and That Man, "Burning Churches"

THE SATANIST OF WARSAW: Blasphemy, Cancer + Behemoth (Documentary)

See Behemoth in the 66 Best Metal Songs of the Decade

More From Loudwire