Until this CD came out, I was under the impression that only country artists and lame "adult pop" (hello Jewel) acts released Christmas albums. This CD blows away all of these past Xmas albums and shows that a real band can rock out anywhere, even on a Christmas album. On this CD, the classic line-up of Twisted Sister (Dee, Eddie, Jay Jay, Mark and A.J.) play rock versions of nine Christmas classics and have included a new song Heavy Metal Christmas, which is the band's update on 12 Days of Christmas.

One of the things that I have always enjoyed about Twisted Sister is their wicked sense of humor. The band obviously had a lot of fun making this album and it shows in their stellar playing and Dee's vocals never sounded better. Right now, the band's version of Oh Come All Ye Faithful is getting a lot of airplay. The song is set to the tune of We're Not Gonna Take It and the melody is a dead-on match. There is a thirty minute music special currently airing on VH1 entitled Hangin' with Twisted Sister where the band discusses the recording of the album and how We're Not Gonna Take It was inspired by the Christmas classic. The video for this song is hilarious as it is brings the We're Not Gonna Take It "Needermeyer" video into the present day. There is a link to the YouTube video below.

Other standout tracks are I'll Be Home for Christmas (where Dee duets with the long-lost Lita Ford) and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (which closes with a Ramones-like Ho, Ho, Ho, Let's Go chorus). The band makes their first appearance on the Tonight show tomorrow night to perform Oh Come All Ye Faithful. The only show in the NY area is December 22nd at the Starland Ballroom. (Unfortunately, since L'Amour closed, the band doesn't seem to make any closer appearances)