Ronnie James Dio says We Wish You A Metal Xmas was “a great opportunity to pay homage to my least favorite holiday…and what a lineup of musicians to do it with.” Indeed, the reissue of the 2008 CD features some amazing talent reinterpreting the Christmas standards we all know and love so well. From oldies like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” — with Dio himself leading the menacing arrangement and Tony Iommi on guitar — to newer classics like “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” there is something for just about any Christmas metal or metal Christmas fan in these dozen tunes.
Highlights have got to be Alice Cooper’s “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” (featuring Vinny Appice on drums); Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister grinding out “Run Rudolph Run” with Dave Grohl on drums and Billy Gibbons on guitar; and super drummer Simon Phillips turning in a brilliant performance on — what else? — “Little Drummer Boy.” Lots of guitar action abounds on this CD, mostly from Bruce Kulick doing his best Brian May on “We Wish You A Merry Xmas” and “Grandma.” The rigid bass playing of Billy Sheehan can also be heard throughout.
The whole holiday spirit is brought around full circle with a lighter shade of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” with Tommy Shaw on vocals, Steve Lukather on guitar, Marco Mendoza on bass and Kenny Aronoff on drums. It’s hard to listen to this song by anyone other than Lennon, but you have to appreciate the sentiment. Put together, We Wish You A Metal Xmas is a fun and heavy holiday nugget, best served with some eggnog in a leather goblet.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
