Album Review: Helix – A Heavy Mental Christmas (Fontana North)

Released in 2008, A Heavy Mental Christmas by long-standing heavy metal band, Helix is a Christmas album filled with covers of famous holiday tunes & one original track.

Being an old-school rock band, it’s no surprise just how these covers go. Rocking upbeat covers of the likes of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Wonderful Christmas Time & Jingle Bells that throw out riffs & solos as if they’re going out of business. With Helix having been around since the late 70’s there is no arguing with the talent on show here.

Fun renditions of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree & Jingle Bell Rock improve what is a pretty standard Christmas album for the most part. No bad covers, just not much to get excited about. The best that can be said is that Brian Vollmer vocals are on point. The band seems to be enjoying themselves & this definitely shares more in common with Twisted Sisters Christmas efforts. Just not as memorable.

The better moments are the sleazy & bluesy sounding Santa Claus is Back in Town & the sweet rendition of Happy Xmas (War is Over). Those hoping for a great effort with Silent Night might find themselves disappointed as it is arguably the weakest cover on the album. Vollmer might sound great but that’s about it here.

In a surprising turn of events though, the album ends with an original song, Christmas Time is Here Again. A pacey number that delivers bouncy riffs & a bit of snarl in the vocals. Beyond that though, it’s compeletly forgettable.

Helix – A Heavy Mental Christmas Full Track Listing:

1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
3. Santa Claus Is Back in Town
4. A Wonderful Christmas Time
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
7. Sock It to Me Santa
8. Jingle Bells
9. Silent Night
10. Christmas Time Is Here Again

Check it out yourself below via Apple Music.