The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Metal Albums
When most people think of Christmas music, visions of jingle bells and soft crooners come to mind—but metalheads know the holidays can be just as heavy and headbanging as the rest of the year. From thunderous riffs to soaring vocals, the metal scene has produced some incredible holiday albums that bring both festive cheer and pure metal energy. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, curating a holiday playlist, or just want to inject some power chords into your December, here’s a definitive guide to must-have Christmas metal albums.
Classic and Legendary Metal Christmas Albums
We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year (Various Artists)
This compilation is a metalhead’s dream, featuring metal versions of holiday classics from Lemmy, Billy F. Gibbons, Alice Cooper, John 5, Dave Grohl, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi and more. Iconic tracks like Run Rudolph Run, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Little Drummer Boy make this a seasonal essential for metal fans.
Halford III: Winter Songs
Rob Halford, the legendary frontman of Judas Priest, delivers a heavy metal take on Christmas classics. From Silent Night to O Come All Ye Faithful, Halford’s unmistakable vocals turn these traditional carols into metal anthems. Fans of power metal and classic heavy metal alike will find this album a festive powerhouse.
A Twisted Christmas (Twisted Sister)
Dee Snider and Twisted Sister’s A Twisted Christmas brings irreverent humor and hard-hitting riffs to the holidays. From Oh Come All Ye Faithful to Heavy Metal Christmas (Happy Xmas), this album is perfect for fans who want fun and fury in equal measure.
Modern and All-Star Metal Christmas Compilations
A Very Metal Christmas Vol. 1 & 2 (Various Artists)
Released by Cleopatra Records’ Deadline Music in 2023, these compilations feature some of the biggest names in hard rock and metal covering festive hits. Tracks like All I Want for Christmas Is You (Tim “Ripper” Owens, Ron “Bumblefoot”, David Ellefson) and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Cherie Currie & Tracii Guns) make Vol. 1 a standout, while Vol. 2 continues the metal holiday fun with O Holy Night (Glenn Hughes) and Blue Christmas (Jack Russell & Chris Holmes). These albums are a modern classic for fans who want a mix of traditional carols and rock-infused Christmas originals.
We Wish You a Hairy Christmas (Various Artists)
If you are an 80s hair/glam metal afficionado this compilation is your ticket to the party! The album features artists like Warrant, Danger Danger, Enuff Z’Nuff, L.A. Guns, Bullet Boys, Gilby Clarke, and Faster Pussycat. The album blends humor, shredding solos, and classic Christmas cheer. Tracks like Father Christmas and Naughty Naughty Xmas are pure 80s metal fun!
Stryper - The Greatest Gift Of All
Stryper also bring their unmistakable melodic metal sound to the festive season with The Greatest Gift of All. This full-length Christmas album, released in 2025 blends traditional holiday classics with original songs, delivering a polished mix of faith-driven themes, soaring vocals, and classic heavy metal riffs. Tracks like Silent Night and Joy to the World are given a powerful yet respectful metal treatment, while originals such as The Greatest Gift of All and Still the Light showcase the band’s signature harmony-driven songwriting and uplifting energy. Featuring the classic lineup of Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, Oz Fox, and Perry Richardson, the album stands as a strong seasonal release that balances melody, heaviness, and heartfelt holiday spirit, making it a perfect addition to any metal Christmas playlist.
Majestica – A Christmas Carol
Swedish symphonic power metal band Majestica released A Christmas Carol, a festive metal album inspired by Charles Dickens’ classic story. The album blends orchestral arrangements, choir-like vocals, sleigh bells, and powerful metal riffs to tell a holiday-themed narrative. Key tracks include A Christmas Story, Ghost of Christmas Past, The Joy of Christmas, and Ghost of Marley, with extended editions adding This Christmas and Glory of Christmas. Majestica’s blend of storytelling, symphonic elements, and metal energy makes this album a standout addition to any Christmas metal playlist.
Merry Axemas Vol. 1 & 2 (Various Guitarists)
These instrumental albums bring some of the greatest guitarists together for holiday magic. Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Steve Lukather, Neal Schon, and Zakk Wylde perform guitar-centric versions of Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, and more. These albums are essential for fans who love guitar hero solos with a festive twist.
August Burns Red Holiday Cover
Another modern metal holiday favourite comes from August Burns Red, the acclaimed American metalcore band. They released an instrumental metal cover of Mariah Carey’s classic All I Want for Christmas Is You in 2020, turning the pop hit into a shredding, riff-heavy metal version perfect for headbanging under the tree. Guitarist JB Brubaker called it “one of the most fun holiday songs we’ve ever done,” and it has quickly become a staple for metal fans’ festive playlists. This release continues the band’s tradition of holiday-themed music, including their annual Christmas Burns Red shows, and adds a modern, energetic twist to your seasonal soundtrack.
A Very Brutal Christmas is a holiday-themed EP by the American thrash metal side project Austrian Death Machine, founded by Tim Lambesis from American metalcore band As I Lay Dying. The release serves as a parody and tribute to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films and persona and features three high-energy tracks with Schwarzenegger-style vocals.
Death Metal Christmas and Extreme Holiday Releases
For fans who prefer their holiday music heavy, brutal, and extreme, the death metal and extreme metal scene has some unique seasonal offerings. These releases combine the festive spirit with crushing riffs, blast beats, and dark humor.
Examples of albums and artists:
J.J. Hrubovcak (Hate Eternal) - Death Metal Christmas: A serious take with twisted carols featuring serious death metal musicianship.
A Very Death Metal Christmas (RMW Music): An album featuring various artists performing holiday tracks in a death metal style.
Hail Santa - It's a Death Metal Xmas: A themed release available on Bandcamp with aggressive holiday songs.
.jpg)
I Declare War - Bring the Season (EP): A deathcore band's holiday offering, combining heavy breakdowns with seasonal themes.
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Joyful Noise EP: An extreme metal release with festive tracks like "Merry Chrystmeth" for fans of grindcore intensity.
The Lovecraft Society - Death to the World: A Christian black metal album with dark holiday motifs.
This section proves that even the most brutal metal fans can enjoy the holidays in style, with riffs, blasts, and unrelenting energy replacing traditional bells and carols.
Iconic Metal and Hard Rock Holiday Songs
King Diamond – No Presents for Christmas: Dark, theatrical, and quintessentially metal
Manowar – Silent Night: A bombastic, heavy take on a classic
Twisted Sister – Heavy Metal Christmas: Party anthem with irreverent style
August Burns Red – Carol of the Bells: Metalcore energy meets holiday tradition
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24: Epic, orchestral metal with headbanging riffs
Graham Bonnet – Last Christmas (from A Very Metal Christmas): Pop holiday song transformed into a metal classic
AC/DC – Mistress for Christmas: Classic hard rock meets festive spirit in this playful, riff-heavy holiday track
Why Metal Christmas Albums are Essential
Celebrate the holidays metal-style with riffs, shredding solos, and powerful vocals
Perfect for gift-giving: albums like A Very Metal Christmas and We Wish You a Metal Xmas make great gifts for headbanging friends.
Expand your festive playlist: mix classic carols with songs from King Diamond, Twisted Sister, Halford, or August Burns Red to create a metal holiday soundtrack.
Heavy Metal Merchant Recommendations
We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year
Halford III: Winter Songs
A Twisted Christmas
A Very Metal Christmas Vol. 1 & 2
We Wish You a Hairy Christmas
Merry Axemas Vol. 1 & 2
August Burns Red – All I Want for Christmas Is You
AC/DC – Mistress for Christmas
King Diamond – No Presents for Christmas
From shred-heavy guitar solos to epic metalcore arrangements of your favourite carols, these albums prove that the holidays can be just as loud, heavy, and unforgettable as any mosh pit. Rock your Christmas this year with these headbanging essentials.
