Album Review: Twisted Sister – A Twisted Christmas (Razor & Tie)

There’s something so ‘Twisted Sister’ about their final studio album being a Christmas record. Not just a single or a couple of tracks on a EP, no they went all out with A Twisted Christmas. Twelve tracks that sees classic holiday tunes get the ‘twisted’ remix all with their famous tongues jammed firmly in their cheeks.

A Twisted Christmas was released near the end of October 2006.

There is no denying that Sister aren’t taking things too seriously. Although when you first listen to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas you might wonder. The opening segment plays out like a pop song before the band halt proceedings to declare that this isn’t Twisted Sister. No, this is Twisted Sister. So begins the heavier rock sound that we all know and love backed up by Dee’s classic snarl.

It’s a great opener that sounds both Christmassy and Twisted at the same time. What then follows is probably one of the most famous rock Christmas covers ever as the band take the beat of ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and use it to great effect on Oh Come All Ye Faithful. So popular was this version that it even got a silly but fun video. It’s pretty damn good.

The album and Twisted Sister certainly nail the fun factor while never drifting too far from either the metal or the Christmas side of things. To help add legitimacy we even get some guest vocalists in the form of Doro Pesch on White Christmas where she sings in her native German language. As well as Lita Ford singing on I’ll Be Home for Christmas.

Each will likely have their own personal favourite here but there will be few denials of the high quality of the likes of Silver Bells, Let it Snow, Deck the Halls and Heavy Metal Christmas. The latter even sees the band put their own face-painted, mascara-smeared spin on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

“Twelve silver crosses, eleven black mascaras, ten pairs of platforms, nine tattered t-shirts, eight pentagrams, seven leather jackets, six cans of hairspray, five skull-head rings, four quarts of Jack, three studded belts, two pairs of spandex pants, and a tattoo of Ozzy.”

Only them. Only Twisted Sister could do this and make it sound so good and still so damn silly.

Twisted Sister – A Twisted Christmas Full Track Listing:

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. I’ll be Home for Christmas
5. Silver Bells
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
7. Let it Snow
8. Deck the Halls
9. The Christmas Song
10. Heavy Metal Christmas
11. Merry Christmas
12. White Christmas (Bonus Track)