It's Happy Heavy Holidays with WE WISH YOU A METAL XMAS AND A HEADBANGING NEW YEAR out now from Eagle Rock Entertainment. This star-studded gang of musicians brings a hard rock approach to Christmas with their caustic collection of carols. The twelve track CD features raucous rhythms, spirited shredding and varied vocal styles. "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" melds the traditional melody of the tune with metal meters. It is followed by a robust version of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run" featuring David Grohl (drums & backing vocals).

Alice Cooper combines silly and sinister on his spin of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and Ronnie James Dio is haunting on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". "Silver Bells" is energized and Carlos Cavazo's guitar solos are engaging. "Little Drummer Boy" has determined drumming from Simon Phillips. Steve Morse (guitar) and company incorporate sassy innuendo to "Santa Clause is Back In Town". "Silent Night" - sung in death metal style by Chuck Billy - is a 360 from the soft tones of the traditional tune. "Deck The Halls" is dark and daring followed by the heavy and humorous "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer". "Rocking Around the Xmas Tree" is rambunctious. The CD closes with Tommy Shaw leading a call for peace on "Happy Xmas (War is Over). The interpretation starts off acoustically as the arrangement expands with more instruments and the catchy chorus.

We Wish You A Metal Xmas and A Headbanging New Year is an intriguing and intense reinterpretation of Christmas carols. It's fun and adds frenzy to familiar songs of the season.

• Info: -- USA/NY 2009: Order CD (Laura Turner Lynch/Kweevak.com)