A Heavy Metal Christmas!

Well folks we're officially into December and Christmas is nearly upon us! Christmas trees are going up, the snow isn't coming down (as per usual here in England) and the same Christmas songs are blaring in every supermarket, on every radio station and on every compilation album. Now I love Slade and Wizzard as much as the next guy but after 29 years of hearing them EVERY Christmas it can get a little grating.

I volunteered to put together a Christmas playlist for work last month and the usual suspects are on there. However I was looking frantically for something just a little bit different I came across quite a few that would appeal to the headbanger in all of us. Some of them are safe to play at work while some of them would certainly get me sacked almost immediately! So while I can't play some of these at work, here are some Christmas hits that truly RAWK!

#1. Lemmy/Billy Gibbons/Dave Grohl- Run Rudolph Run

An awesome version of a true Yuletide stalwart. The idea of Lemmy singing a Christmas song is genius enough before you add ZZ Top and Foo Fighters' DNA to the mix. Play this one loud on Christmas Eve folks!

#2. Black Stone Cherry- Santa Is Back


Come on... you didn't think I could make it through this without mentioning my favourite dudes from Kentucky? Again this is a cover but only BSC could cover the King himself Elvis Presley and nail it this hard. FYI this IS on the work playlist. The next one however is not!

#3 Steel Panther- Sexy Santa

As I hunted for Christmas songs for work, I'd actually forgot about Sexy Santa. Then like most Steel Panther songs, I laughed until I nearly pissed myself. With lines like "In the back of the sleigh he's got some Ho Ho Hos" and "He's got eggnog dripping from his firehose" I can safely say that this song will not be played in your local supermarket any time soon; all the more reason you should play it immediately!

#4 Twisted Sister- My Heavy Metal Christmas

So did you know Dee Snider and co had recorded not only a Christmas song but a whole album? 2006's 'A Twisted Christmas' is the perfect tonic for the metal fan sick of hearing Band Aid and John Lennon. While there's a fantastic version of 'Come All Ye Faithful' to the tune of their biggest hit 'We're Not Gonna Take It', I selected 'My Heavy Metal Christmas' as the standout track. "4 quarts of Jack, 3 studded belts, 2 pairs of spandex pants and a tattoo of Ozzy" are much more practical presents than french hens and turtle doves. Where would you keep them all?

#5 Steel Panther- The Stocking Song

Another NSFW entry from the Panther. A little less raucous than Sexy Santa but certainly no less rude. You'll never look at candy canes in the same way again!

So there you have it! Give Mariah Carey a rest this year and let metal's finest rock you into the Christmas season. Alternatively check out my post from last December and see some other Christmas songs that I often give a spin this time of year.