Winter Songs

Halford 3

Leave it to the Metal God Rob Halford and his band Halford 3 to release Winter Songs, a holiday CD to get you in the mood. The Judas Priest vocalist and his namesake band have made their bones with heavy performances and earned quite the cult-like audience, but this CD is their first with holiday music, both traditional and original.

Opening with "Get Into The Spirit," we get a wildly affected Rob Halford vocal over straight-ahead thrashing for a tune about the spirituality of celebrations (as the Metal God himself informed me, this CD is less about any one holiday than it is this time of year). A version of "We Three Kings" follows, featuring Roy Z. and Metal Mike Chlasciak's blistering guitar playing. “Oh Come O Come Emanuel” chunks along with Ed Roth's piano under Halford singing and sounding as good as ever, maybe even better. A welcomed quiet comes over us with "Winter Song". Written by American singer, songwriter and pianist Sarah Barreilles, this one has the band restrained over Bobby Jarzombek's smooth brushwork. We're back to traditional for “What Child Is This,” then the mood shifts drastically for the next two numbers.

This is where the band has the most fun on Winter Songs. "Christmas For Everyone" has such a commercial and light feel, it deserves a place on radio play lists alongside Paul McCartney's “Wonderful Xmas Time,” Bruce Springsteen's “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” and other perennial holiday rock faves. Then there's the even more straight-ahead "I Don't Care" with Halford (the band and the man) just having a blast. Two traditional tunes end the CD. “Oh Holy Night” is as big and heavy as you’d expect from this band. Halford wails and you wonder this guy's voice ever suffers from any wear and tear. "Come All Ye Faithful" benefits from Jarzombek's big tom rolls on this note-for-note rendition. Listening to Winter Songs is to celebrate 10 songs from a great band, no matter what holiday it is.

~ Ralph Greco, Jr.

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