OpEd
Heavy Metal Music Videos Done Holiday Style
Band Photo: King Diamond (?)
There are easily hundreds of heavy videos that fit the Halloween mood, but the Christmas holiday doesn’t get nearly as much love from the metal world. But never fear, metal doesn’t disappoint, and there are a few bands that have gone the extra mile and released videos to help get you through the uncomfortable family gatherings, drunk quarreling siblings, and even the off-key caroling. So whether you’re a die-hard celebrant who can’t sleep all night until Christmas morning or a scrooge with a “bah humbug!” on your lips, check out these video clips to keep your holiday fully metal.
Twisted Sister – “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Twisted Sister is notorious for awesomely cheesy videos with ridiculous opening segments, and covering a Christmas classic certainly wasn’t going to change that. Enjoy it for the amazingly goofy guy happily spreading Twisted Sister cheer, the rocking rendition of an old holiday standby, or even just enjoy it for the dancing MILF!
Erlösung – “Carol of the Bells”
Loved and loathed in about equal measures, this little diddy baffled pretty much everyone when it came out. How black metal went from church burnings to grim, spiked gauntlet-clad youngsters waging a Christian holy war on the commercialization of Christmas is anybody’s guess, but regardless of religious affiliation this raw take on “Carol of the Bells” is well worth hearing. Remember folks – “Christmas ist Krieg!”
King Diamond – “No Presents For Christmas”
The King is always a reliable standby, even for a little goofy Christmas mayhem. Check out this live clip of an adoring crowd rocking out to “No Presents For Christmas.”
Skies Over Bethany – “O Come O Come Emmanuel”
(Un?)intentionally starting a war with August Burns Red fans over whose cover of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” is the best, Skies Over Bethany offers up a pummeling but still melodic rendition of the carol, complete with screamed vocals. It’s a fairly good bet you won’t hear this version in church anytime soon.
Rob Halford – “Get Into the Spirit”
Heading back into more traditional metal territory, Rob Halford puts a heavy twist on the holidays with his album “Halford III: Winter Songs.” Check out “Get Into the Spirit” in the player below.
Powerwolf – “We Drink Your Blood”
And to finish us off is the amazing Powerwolf, for all those who are getting ready to drink from that cup at Christmas midnight mass…
We wish a very merry Christmas to all the Metalunderground readers, now go spread some holiday metal cheer!
Ty Arthur is a freelance writer who writes for both entertainment and technical instruction sites. An avid fan of many different forms of metal, he has been involved in reviewing music for several years and is currently a contributing editor for Metalunderground.com
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GREAT ARTICLE, TY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD RONNIE JAMES DIO'S "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN" AND BOB RIVERS' "I AM SANTA CLAUS" TO THIS CHRISTMAS LIST.........ALSO, POWERWOLF RELEASED ONE OF MY FAVORITE METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM INCLUDED HERE!