Here’s My Top Christmas Rock Songs To Crank Up

Having grown up not celebrating any holidays, I really wasn't allowed to listen to Christmas music.  Sure, I heard it in stores and on the television, but it was never on otherwise at my house.  While I rebelled often enough, the rebelling I was doing usually didn't involve sneaking off to listen to Christmas music.

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Having not listened to much as a kid, I think that's why now as an adult, I actually don't mind a lot of it.  There are of course certain Christmas songs I can't stand, like Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime", which really grinds my gears.

I wanted to share with you a couple of Christmas song versions and one album I really dig as we get closer to the December holiday.

Run Rudolph Run- Lemmy, Billy Gibbons, Dave Grohl

Coming off the "We Wish You a Metal Christmas" album, this version of the classic song included Lemmy, Dave Grohl, and Billy Gibbons, three of my favorite rockers.  It's about as rock and roll as you can get with Christmas music.

Mistress for Christmas- AC/DC

I've heard many AC/DC fans state this song is ridiculous, and maybe it is a little bit.  It is however full in line with most all of the music the iconic band has released over the years.  It's a good one to throw on a parties especially when I find out people didn't know AC/DC ever created this Christmas gem.

Santa Drives a Hot Rod- Brian Setzer Orchestra

The Brian Setzer Orchestra is a band that I'll go months without listening to and then will dive back into their music hardcore.  While not the most "metal" or "hard rock" on this list, "Santa Drives a Hot Rod" is a banging Christmas tune that's way better than the department store piped in Muzak crap we're used to hearing this time of the year.  Plus, the song is based on a true story, I heard.

Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)- The Darkness

People I know either love or hate The Darkness, but if you're an 80s music fan, you'll dig the sound in this song.  Between the vocals, guitars, and the clothes, it's pretty good Christmas rock.

X-M@$- Corey Taylor

This is pretty much a middle finger to Christmas song, and I can appreciate some of that sometimes.  It's a good one for when you're in the Scrooge mood this time of the year.

Kidnap the Sandy Claws- Korn

Korn does a good job covering this Nightmare Before Christmas tune, and it's a fun one to play for fans of the movie that haven't heard it before.  The whole "Nightmare Revisited" album this is off of is pretty banging all around too.

Over the Holidays and Under the Influence- Butch Walker

One of my favorite musical artists is a dude named Butch Walker.  Butch was in a band called The Marvelous 3 like forever ago and since has had a long solo career as a singer, songwriter, and music producer.  Above is one song featured on his "Over the Holidays and Under the Influence" album which is pretty damn good.  It's kind of like the band is just goofing off playing the Christmas songs, but you can really appreciate the talent all around in the tunes.  Half serious, half having fun, and I dig it.

There are plenty of other rock and metal Christmas songs, but these ones top my list.  What ones are on yours?