10 Fan Favorite Heavy Metal Christmas Songs

Heavy Metal Christmas Songs

Metal fans know what they like. We have many metal fans on staff here at the site. We have also done a lot of research, scoured through tons of lists and forums and had some pretty scary chats at times. In the end, we have come up with a pretty genuine list of Christmas songs often cited by metal fans as their favorites. Of course, many of them are our favorites, too. So, if you are into metal or simply just into entertaining takes on classic Christmas songs, grab some egg nog and turn it up to eleven!

# 10 – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Dokken

We are opening up our Fan Favorite Heavy Metal Christmas Songs list with one of our favorite bands. We are glad fans love this one. Dokken is superb on this great heavy metal version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” The track appeared on the 2007 compilation Monster Ballads X-Mas, released by Razor & Tie. It was produced by Michael Anderson and Beka Callaway and turns the familiar standard into exactly the kind of Christmas song Dokken fans would want to hear.

# 9 – Christmas With The Devil – Spinal Tap

Everyone loved Spinal Tap. This is about as perfect as it gets for heavy metal Christmas music. Don’t believe what everyone says, Spinal Tap is real, just like Santa Claus. “Christmas with the Devil” was written and performed by Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls and first appeared with This Is Spinal Tap in 1984. The band later recorded another version in 1992. Either way, the idea of Spinal Tap doing a Christmas song remains almost too perfect.

# 8 – Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

A brilliant recording that blends metal and classical music, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” stands as the track that turned so many people onto the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The instrumental combines “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” with the melody known through “Carol of the Bells.” It was first recorded by Savatage for Dead Winter Dead in 1995 before appearing on Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s debut album Christmas Eve and Other Stories in 1996. The piece was written by Paul O’Neill, Jon Oliva, and Robert Kinkel. Its story of music continuing through war-torn Sarajevo gave the dramatic arrangement an emotional center that helped make the track a modern holiday classic.

# 7 – Get into the Spirit – Rob Halford

This is just killer stuff. “Get into the Spirit” opened Halford III: Winter Songs, Rob Halford’s 2009 Christmas album. The lineup featured Halford on vocals, Roy Z and Mike Chlasciak on guitars, Mike Davis on bass, Bobby Jarzombek on drums, and Ed Roth on keyboards. Roy Z produced the record. “Get into the Spirit” was written by Rob Halford, Roy Z, and John Baxter, and it sounds much more like a full-on metal song than a novelty Christmas track.

# 6 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Helix

There is nothing like heavy mental Christmas. We all know how that feels. The great heavy metal band Helix knocks down your Christmas tree with this intense adaptation of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Helix recorded the song for their 2008 album A Heavy Mental Christmas, which was released by GBS Records. The recognizable melody survives, but the guitars, bass, drums, and Brian Vollmer’s vocals turn Rudolph into something much heavier than the version most of us heard growing up.

# 5 – Silent Night – Faster Pussycat

We would love to say this is a little twisted, but that phrase belongs to the next group on our list. Faster Pussycat recorded “Silent Night” for the Monster Ballads X-Mas compilation, released on September 11, 2007, by Razor & Tie. Their rendition combines the solemn melody of the original carol with the band’s darker glam-rock sound and Taime Downe’s gritty vocals. It is exactly the kind of left-field Christmas recording that made that compilation so much fun.

# 4 – Oh Come All Ye Faithful – Twisted Sister

If any band knows how to make a statement, it’s Twisted Sister. They built their careers on attitude, showmanship, and some pretty rocking tunes. This one reminds us of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” in a twisted sort of way, which makes sense because the arrangement deliberately leans into the connection between the two melodies. Twisted Sister recorded “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” for their 2006 holiday album A Twisted Christmas, produced by Mark Mendoza and Jay Jay French. Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda, Mark Mendoza, and A.J. Pero turn the traditional carol into a full Twisted Sister performance. The video is great!

# 3 – Mistress for Christmas – AC/DC

Hey, you want what you want. “Mistress for Christmas” was featured on AC/DC’s 1990 album The Razors Edge. This one is a little left of the traditional themes of holiday music, and that’s why fans love it. Angus Young and Malcolm Young wrote the song, with Brian Johnson on lead vocals, Angus on lead guitar, Malcolm on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass, and Chris Slade on drums. Bruce Fairbairn produced the album, which also gave the world “Thunderstruck” and “Moneytalks.”

# 2 – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Alice Cooper

There’s nothing like a little Alice Cooper for Christmas. Alice Cooper delivers big time with his trademark vocal style and crushing guitar riffs that are just perfect. His version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” appeared on the 2008 compilation We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year. The track brings together Alice Cooper on vocals, John 5 on guitar, Billy Sheehan on bass, and Vinny Appice on drums. Listen to him growl. It’s so much fun.

# 1 – Joy to the World – Steve Lukather and Eddie Van Halen

Their work on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” was not the only recording to feature both of these legendary guitar players. Check out this smoking version of “Joy to the World,” released on Steve Lukather’s 2003 Christmas album Santamental. Lukather and Jeff Babko rearranged the traditional song into a hard-rocking instrumental with a groove Lukather compared to “Hot for Teacher.” Steve Lukather handles the main guitar work, while Eddie Van Halen contributes the second and fourth guitar solos. The two friends trade off in a performance that sounds nothing like the Christmas standard most people know. That is exactly why it belongs at number one on this list.