What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford belting out Yuletide carols.

Halford will release Halford III ? Winter Songs on November 3 in North America. The album will also come with a 24-page color booklet and will be out in Britain and Europe on November 9. German fans will have to wait until November 13 for it.

A preview of the record (as well as a video clip) is available through the website for Halford's Metal God Shop webstore with two singles also available for purchase: "We Three Kings" and "Get Into The Spirit."

"Well, I've always said I wanted to produce a Christmas CD," Halford says. "The Halford band has assembled a fantastic release, and we're excited to have produced a collection of holiday tracks which all of us have enjoyed from a very early age."

Other songs on the album include "O Come O Come Emanuel," "Winter Song," "When Christmas Comes For Everyone," "Light Of The World," "What Child Is This" and "O Holy Night."

Halford's band for the record includes guitarists Roy Z and "Metal" Mike Chlasciak, drummer Bobby Jarzombek and bassist Mike Davis.

Songs not included on the record include "Killing Machine/Hell Bent For Santa," "You've Got Another Gift Coming," "Defenders Of The Sleigh" or a reworked version of "Breaking The Law" entitled "Drinking The Nog."

The record is Halford's first solo album since 2002's Crucible.

Judas Priest spent a portion of 2009 on the road while celebrating the 30th anniversary of 1980's British Steel by performing it in its entirety. The group also released a new live album, A Touch Of Evil: Live, which was culled from their 2005 and 2008 world tours

Source:	robhalford.com
Band profile:	Halford