Band:	Various Artists
Album:	We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
Style:
Release date:	October 2008
A review by:	Doc G.

01. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
02. Run Rudolph Run [Chuck Berry cover]
03. Santa Claws Is Coming To Town
04. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
05. Silver Bells
06. Little Drummer Boy
07. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
08. Silent Night
09. Deck The Halls
10. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
11. Rocking Round The Xmas Tree
12. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) [John Lennon & Yoko Ono cover]
13. O' Christmas Tree [2010 re-release bonus]
14. Auld Lang Syne [performed by Girlschool][2010 re-release bonus]
15. Frosty The Snowman [2010 re-release bonus]
16. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer [2010 re-release bonus]

Ok, in the parlance of our times, the Christmas season starts immediately after the Halloween decorations are down (or the Christmas season starts in September if your that one nut job on every block who starts setting up Christmas lights way too fucking early.) So, to cater to those people who need something "metal" themed for pretty much every aspect of their life, we find a wide array of metal superstars butchering classic Christmas carols. Who, you may ask? Well, everyone you thought was above doing something so embarrassing; Lemmy, Dio, Lips Kudlow, George Lynch, Dave Grohl, Dez Fafara, Tony Iommi, Alice Cooper, Chuck Billy, Billy Sheehan, John 5, Girlschool, Tracii Gunns, Doro, Scott Ian - the list goes on...

Now normally, I wouldn't approve of delving too much into politics when it comes to music, but I would agree with anyone who would raise their eyebrows at a bunch of normally (mostly) respectable musicians trying to make a quick buck off some royalty free public domain songs. Here's the kicker: in this new edition with the bonus songs and whatnot, Wendy Dio is credited as the executive producer and it includes a short message on the inside telling us about the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up & Shout Cancer Fund. Knowing at least a chunk of proceeds are going to a decent cause puts a totally different spin on an album like this; in other words, it's safe to sit back and laugh without that shameful word "sellout" nagging at you.

That being said, the music for the most part is a complete joke, occasionally the way some of these carols have been beefed up sounds surprisingly good - if you replaced the lyrics and kept the same tune, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" sounds really natural with Dio & Iommi playing it, "Run Rudolph Run" has that rockabilly sound that really suits Lemmy, and Girlschool add a nice punk sound to "Auld Lang Syne". Everything else is cringe-inducing; I'd die happy if I never had to listen to Dez Fafara singing "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" ever again.

All in all it's a fun release, obviously not meant to be taken seriously. So why not? Have a good laugh while a few bucks go toward a good cause.