Norwegian gothic metal project Mortemia, the creative outlet of Sirenia mastermind Morten Veland, has released a striking new cover of the iconic Coolio track “Gangsta’s Paradise”. The song forms part of the ever‑expanding The Cover Collab Sessions and marks a significant milestone: the project’s 30th collaboration. Joining Veland on this release are three distinguished guest vocalists — Diva Satánica (Bloodhunter), Grace Darkling (Nocturna), and Rehn Stillnight (Nocturna) — each bringing their own distinctive edge to the metal reinterpretation.
Veland reflects on the importance of this collaboration: “I’m proud and honoured to welcome Diva Satánica, Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight as my special guests for The Cover Collab Sessions. This song marks Mortemia’s 30th collaboration, and I wanted to do something special to celebrate this milestone. I’ve known these fantastic singers for some time now, after meeting on tour, and I’m very pleased to finally be working together on my Mortemia project. Together we’ve created a really cool metal version of this iconic song. I feel truly privileged and thankful to have Diva, Grace and Rehn on board, and we can’t wait to share this track with all of you.”
Diva Satánica on the song’s rebellious spirit: “When Morten asked me to join this collaboration, I accepted immediately! It’s a hymn we’ve all sung at some point in our lives, and it carries that rebellious energy that also connects me with the metal scene — the sense of freedom, staying true to yourself, and living on the edge. It reminds me of my teenage years and that fearless attitude we often lose as adults. Sharing vocal duties with Grace and Rehn was an absolute honour. I feel very lucky to be part of this session and to add my own touch to Mortemia’s legacy.”
Grace Darkling on a long‑awaited dream: “I’ve been a fan of Sirenia and Tristania since I was 16, so collaborating with Morten is a dream come true! Singing on a hip‑hop track like ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ was great fun and a fascinating twist. I absolutely love the metal version we’ve created, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!”
Rehn Stillnight on blending rap and symphonic metal: “I’ve been a huge fan of symphonic metal since I was very young, so naturally I’ve always loved Sirenia and Tristania. Working with Morten is a real pleasure, and recording a metal version of a rap song with two other incredible singers has been quite amusing! I’m thrilled with the result and can’t wait to share it with you.”
Mortemia is currently preparing its third album in the collaborative format, once again featuring a wide array of exceptional guest vocalists. As the title, The Cover Collab Sessions, suggests, the album will consist exclusively of cover songs, each rearranged and performed in Mortemia’s unmistakable style.
Fans can now listen to and watch the video for Mortemia’s rendition of “Gangsta’s Paradise” on the project’s official platforms. Link
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