Various Artists – We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
If there is one form of music I have grown to despise more and more each year, that would be Christmas Music. The fact that you hear the same music everywhere you go during the holidays can put a damper on the season or when you hear obscure versions that leave you wondering, “Why?” Then along comes TWISTED SISTER who put out an album that actually brings a laugh and smile to a headbangers heart and many more are soon to follow.
This year brought together a high form of talent to put together, We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year showcasing some top players and vocalists in hard rock / metal which broke free of the traditional sound of Christmas with a true rockin’ edge. Here’s a track by track synopsis:
We Wish You A Merry Xmas – This is a track where the amazing voice of Jeff Scott Soto leads everyone in a sing along and it actually sounds fun.
Run Rudolph Run – It’s hard to argue anything that Lemmy chooses to do especially when you add the guitars of Billy Gibbons and the backbeat of Dave Grohl.
Santa Claws Is Coming To Town – Done in complete Alice Cooper fashion with some intense fretwork from John 5.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – This one took me by surprise with half of HEAVEN AND HELL (Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi) managing to make this sound truly evil yet the lyrics are perfect for the voice.
Silver Bells -Although Geoff Tate possesses one of the best voices in music, his presentation is a little too strong and might have been more suited for another song that comes later on the disc.
Little Drummer Boy – One of my favorite tracks due to the voice of dUg Pinnick backed by the rhythm section of Billy Sheehan and Simon Phillips with guitar wizardry not too over the top from George Lynch and we have a great re-working to a normally stagnant song.
Santa Claus Is Back In Town – Tim Owens (aka Ripper) shows off his vocal abilities and Steve Morse shows the younger generation how to shred without being annoying at it.
Silent Night – And now for something completely different, the Thrash Metal version which is very ironic in itself. While a good attempt, this version is good for a listen but unfortunately does not fit with the flow of the album. Perhaps next year there will be a Mosh Pit Xmas And A Stagediving New Year coming our way.
Deck The Halls – This is the song that Geoff Tate should have sang on while Oni Logan should have sang on Silver Bells.
Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer – Everybody’s least favorite Christmas song gets a bouncy reworking so it doesn’t sound like a lame country song which semi-works for me.
Rockin’ Around The Xmas Tree – This song actually surprised me and the performance of Joe Lynn Turner is one of the best here and the guitar work from Bob and Bruce Kulick is some of the best on the CD.
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – While a good choice to end the CD, I feel that Steve Lukather could have been used a bit better on something more upbeat to show more of his abilities.
Overall I was impressed with the interpretations and actually made Christmas Music listenable this year!
Rating: 8/10
Label: Armoury Records
Website: www.eaglerockent.com
(+7 rating, 3 votes)
I didn’t like this at all. Yeah a little funny but overall, just seemed boring. I would kill for some of the more Extreme metal groups to get together and do a Christmas Compilation one year.
All in all when it comes to Rock/Metal and Christmas so far nothing trumps TSO.
This album is cool if you enjoy hitting women or drinking Budweiser.