The combination of death metal and Christmas may seem like an unlikely pairing, but the world of music has shown us time and time again that creativity knows no bounds. Death metal, known for its guttural vocals, aggressive guitar riffs, and dark themes, provides an unexpected but exciting twist on the festive season. Several death metal bands have taken the opportunity to give their own renditions of holiday classics or create original Christmas-themed tracks, producing albums that are both brutal and festive. In this article, we will explore the 10 best death metal Christmas albums ever, ranging from serious musical accomplishments to tongue-in-cheek metal celebrations.
10 Best Death Metal Christmas Albums Ever
1. “A Brutal Christmas: The Season in Chaos” (2002)
Released by Indie Record Label, Soundmass, this compilation album is a staple for death metal fans during the holiday season. The album features various metal bands putting their unique twist on traditional Christmas carols. With songs like “Angels We Have Heard on High” performed by Sympathy and “O Come All Ye Faithful” covered by Death Requisite, this album is an ode to the brutal and chaotic nature of death metal, all while embracing the Christmas spirit.
Notable Tracks: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Vengeance Rising; “Little Drummer Boy” by Kekal.
This album demonstrates how extreme metal can intertwine with holiday cheer while still maintaining its intensity, making it one of the best death metal Christmas albums of all time.
2. “We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year” (2008)
Though not exclusively death metal, this star-studded album brings together some of the most iconic names in heavy metal, including Ronnie James Dio, Alice Cooper, and Lemmy Kilmister, to perform Christmas classics. The album’s variety in styles makes it accessible to fans of different metal genres, with death metal elements sprinkled throughout. Tracks like “Run Rudolph Run” deliver headbanging fun alongside holiday themes.
Notable Tracks: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” featuring Chuck Billy (Testament); “Silent Night” featuring Chuck Billy and Scott Ian.
This album is a mix of heavy metal and death metal that brings a heavier sound to the festive season, making it a must-have for any metalhead during Christmas.
3. “Christmas with The Devil: A Death Metal Christmas” by Rotted Corpse (2004)
For fans of traditional death metal with a festive twist, Rotted Corpse delivers a darkly entertaining Christmas album that blends guttural vocals with harsh, relentless instrumentals. Their takes on classic carols are transformed into brutal anthems with lyrics often rewritten to reflect a more sinister side of the holiday season.
Notable Tracks: “Jingle Hells Bells”; “Silent Night, Violent Night.”
The album offers a more underground death metal Christmas experience, staying true to the genre while adding a holiday twist that’s both enjoyable and grimly humorous.
4. “Blackened Christmas” by Belphegor (2012)
Belphegor, known for their blend of death and black metal, released this EP featuring their extreme metal take on Christmas. The vocals are hauntingly demonic, and the overall sound of the album is filled with blast beats and eerie guitar riffs. Though brief, “Blackened Christmas” is a favorite among fans of both black and death metal.
Notable Tracks: “Hark the Herald’s Hellish Choir”; “O Come All Ye Unfaithful.”
This release is perfect for listeners who enjoy the fusion of death and black metal with a dark holiday atmosphere, offering a short but intense Christmas experience.
5. “Twisted Christmas” by Six Feet Under (2016)
Known for their gruesome lyrics and relentless death metal style, Six Feet Under took a different approach in 2016 with their Christmas album “Twisted Christmas.” Here, they deliver grotesque yet humorous versions of classic holiday songs, staying true to their death metal roots while injecting a bit of festive fun.
Notable Tracks: “Deck the Halls with Skulls and Guts”; “12 Days of Deathmas.”
This album is an irreverent and entertaining death metal Christmas album that showcases Six Feet Under’s ability to infuse dark humor into their brutal sound.
6. “Frostbite: A Death Metal Christmas” by Aborted Santas (2015)
A blend of technical death metal and Christmas joy, Frostbite offers high-speed guitar work, machine-gun drumming, and death growls mixed with festive cheer. Aborted Santas use the Christmas theme to create a chaotic atmosphere, with song titles and lyrics that combine traditional Christmas references with death metal brutality.
Notable Tracks: “Frosty the Deadman”; “Santa’s Sleigh of Death.”
The album’s playfulness contrasts sharply with its aggressive sound, making it both entertaining and thrilling for death metal fans during the holiday season.
7. “Christmas Carnage” by Cattle Decapitation (2010)
Cattle Decapitation is known for their unapologetic, politically charged deathgrind, and “Christmas Carnage” is their vicious take on holiday music. This album features original compositions that mix death metal and grindcore with Christmas themes, creating a brutal assault on the senses.
Notable Tracks: “Slay Ride”; “The Nutcracker of Doom.”
This album pushes the boundaries of traditional holiday music, with Cattle Decapitation’s characteristic social commentary subtly woven into the brutal, festive chaos.
8. “Krampusnacht” by Krisiun (2014)
The Brazilian death metal band Krisiun released “Krampusnacht,” an album that draws inspiration from the terrifying Christmas demon, Krampus. The album fuses the mythological figure with death metal to create an atmosphere of dread and intensity during the holiday season. Their intricate guitar work and thunderous drumming make this album stand out in the world of death metal Christmas music.
Notable Tracks: “Krampus March”; “Feast of the Damned.”
“Krampusnacht” offers a darker side to Christmas, focusing on the horror aspect of holiday folklore with powerful death metal execution.
9. “Hellish Noel” by Deicide (2017)
Legendary death metal band Deicide released “Hellish Noel,” a blasphemous Christmas album that challenges the religious roots of the holiday. With anti-Christian themes and relentless musical ferocity, Deicide’s take on Christmas is as controversial as it is heavy. For those who prefer their death metal to confront societal norms, this album delivers in spades.
Notable Tracks: “Unholy Night”; “Reindeer of the Apocalypse.”
This album is a blistering critique of Christmas, filled with venomous lyrics and brutal death metal, making it a standout among more traditional festive metal albums.
10. “Christmas in Hell” by Cannibal Corpse (2011)
Iconic death metal band Cannibal Corpse are no strangers to graphic and gory themes, and “Christmas in Hell” brings their signature brutality to the holiday season. The album is filled with over-the-top violence and gruesome depictions of Christmas traditions gone wrong, wrapped in the band’s relentless death metal style.
Notable Tracks: “Blood Red Snow”; “Slaughter Claus.”
Cannibal Corpse’s Christmas album is not for the faint-hearted, but for fans of extreme metal, it provides a darkly entertaining take on the holiday season.
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Conclusion
While death metal may not be the first genre that comes to mind when thinking about Christmas music, these albums prove that the spirit of the season can take on many forms—even brutal, aggressive, and dark ones. From re-imagined carols to original compositions, the 10 best death metal Christmas albums offer something unique for metalheads who want to celebrate the holidays without sacrificing their love for extreme music.
Each of these albums presents a different interpretation of how death metal can interact with Christmas themes, whether through humor, darkness, or sheer musical intensity. This blending of genres shows that the creativity within death metal extends far beyond its typical confines, making these albums essential listens for any fan of the genre during the festive season.
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