Christmas Single Slam: Bad Wolves, Tempt, Corners of Sanctuary, Standing Crew, The NEW Bardots, Disconnected Souls, Bleach Party, Leo Moracchioli and The Retaliators Soundtrack!

The last single slam of the year has a festive spin and features Bad Wolves, Tempt, Corners of Sanctuary, Standing Crew, The NEW Bardots, Disconnected Souls, Bleach Party, Leo Moracchioli and The Retaliators Soundtrack. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Bad Wolves – Carol of the Bells

Following the release of special digital deluxe version of critically acclaimed album ‘Dear Monsters’, Bad Wolves gear up for the holiday season launching a lyric video of Christmas iconic song ‘Carol of the Bells’.

The band comments:

Despite being a Christmas song, Carol of the Bells always projected a darker vibe to me. So, when the label approached us about doing one, this was our first and only choice. Merry Christmas Wolfpack, enjoy.

A much darker and serious version that takes the Carol of the Bells tune and completely transforms it into something very different. It’s not what you would call a cover, rather it’s Bad Wolves’ Carol of the Bells. One that serves to remind you that things haven’t been too easy recently. It’s honest but it’s not exactly going to fill you with cheer.

Tempt – Christmas Is the Time to Say I Live You

Tempt have released a Christmas single covering multi-platinum recording artist Billy Squier’s classic, Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You.

Says lead guitarist Harrison Marcello:

We want to put rock and roll back into everyone’s Christmas playlist and this gem of a song does that. It captures the Christmas spirit in a sincere, emotional yet fun way and doing it with the band gave it the right vibe and energy. We all get an overdose of Mariah Carey during the holidays but there is no rock song that gives you the emotional lift in the same way unless you’re singing along with Noddy and the Slade guys in the UK. We think that this is the song to change that.

Delivering a festive treat, Tempt have nailed what a Christmas cover should be. Infusing plenty of cheese, a nice amount of heartfelt feeling, and plenty of rock and roll fun. Taking the original hit and adding just enough of themselves to make it notable. It’s an enjoyable anthem that feels suitably Christmassy. Check it out here.

Corners of Sanctuary – Christmas Together

Corners of Sanctuary (COS) have once again wrapped and released a brand new, all original track to commemorate this year’s Yuletide festivities with ‘Christmas Together’. This latest track is part of the band’s annual Holiday bundle, A Merry Metal Xmas.

The law of diminishing returns means that by now, we should be getting sick of Corners of Sanctuary’s Christmas-flavoured releases. Yet, here we are, as 2022 marks Corners of Sanctuary’s tenth year of delivering a sack full of classic, metal inspired, all-original Holiday flavoured songs.

So, what’s the deal with Christmas Together? It’s incredibly twee and certainly isn’t amongst the better Yuletide tracks the band have put out. That being said, it’s stupidly catchy and certainly captures the time of the year nicely. It may even make you feel all warm inside as the lyrical content is so nice.

Standing Crew – First Noel

Finnish rockers Standing Crew have released a punked up version of ‘First Noel’ via Sodeh Records.

Explains TJ Rosendahl – Bass:

First Noel… This song was not familiar to our crew, but somehow it was our choice to record. As our record company strongly recommended, that we should release some Xmas-shit, and told that we should not use so much time on it and to keep it fun. We played the song thru two times, and then we just recorded it. Everything took about two or three takes, and that’s it. Our drummer The Circle made some keyboard shit, and made a fast mixing and editing. The video shoot took about as much time as the duration of the song. So, take your Christmas spirit and few beers, and hope that Santa thinks that you are good!!

It’s a fun blast of punk frivolities, recognisably First Noel, but given a fresh coat of paint. All credit to Standing Crew, who give it their absolute all here and manage to capture both the time of the year but making it thoroughly punk rock too. Check it out here.

The NEW Bardots – Never Too Much Christmas

Sticking to their rock and roll traditions, The NEW Bardots have gone the festive route with their Christmas single, ‘Never Too Much Christmas’. A bonus track from the EP ‘Singles Night’, and now with an accompanying video.

Says vocalist Wayne Olivieri:

We wanted to put out something a bit more Rock & Roll than usual for Christmas and this one just fell together at rehearsal a few weeks back so we rushed into Sky Lab Studios (our home away from home) and knocked it out in one 4 hours session.

Without trying to sound too mean, you can tell this was thrown together quickly because, putting it bluntly, it’s not very good. It’s got a decent festive beat and certainly draws from Christmas rockers of old but after 30 seconds, it’s all but played out. It’s really repetitive, which isn’t great when you consider the full track is not even three minutes long. Check it out here.

Disconnected Souls – Can You Stop the Cavalry

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and once again the eclectic metal outfit Disconnected Souls have reworked a seasonal track into their distinctive style. This year sees ‘Stop the Cavalry’ transformed into a high-impact electrified track which ventures into darker realms.

There’s been some good stuff coming from Disconnected Souls’ revamping of Christmas tracks over the past five years. Yet, this might be the most unique take to date. As well as being one of the most unusual versions of Can You Stop the Cavalry most will have heard. The heavy use of electronica and synth, blended with a lighter beat, the vocal performances, and overall darker tone is simply fascinating.

Bleach Party – Rudolph’s Revenge

US based punk band, Bleach Party have dropped a a festive treat for both Christmas and punk fans.

Short and to the point, with their tongues jammed firmly in their cheeks, Bleach party deliver a two-minute blast of punk-infused rock based around the famous reindeer. Where the one with a nose so bright finally snaps and gets his revenge. Frantic and energetic, it’s a fun track. Check it out here.

Leo Moracchioli – A Holly Jolly Christmas

Leo Moracchioli is a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist metal musician known for his metal covers of popular songs, which have gained him over 4.5 million followers on YouTube as Frog Leap Studios. Some of his most beloved covers have a festive spin and this year, he’s dropped another. A cover of Johnny Marks’ A Holly Jolly Christmas.

Leo Moracchioli always delivers enjoyable festive treats and this track is no different. Where he continues to have fun, but pays immaculate tribute to an original while giving it a fresh metal spin. A Holly Jolly Christmas is the perfect track to make a bit meatier and that’s exactly what Moracchioli does. It belongs on a festive party playlist for sure. Check it out here.

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein ft. Eva Under Fire – Oh Holy Night

Just in time for the holiday season, The Retaliators has shared an enchanting version of the classic Christmas carol ‘O Holy Night’ which is featured in the horror-thriller film’s official score by Emmy-winning composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things).

The new version features Eva Under Fire’s Amanda Lyberg on vocals who has a guest role in the movie and whose band Eva Under Fire have a song (Blow) on The Retaliators Official Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Shares Amanda:

Christmas is my favorite holiday, so you better believe when someone asks me to sing a pretty Christmas classic, I’m going for it. Especially if it’s for a movie I’m in, singing an arrangement by the ‘Stranger Things’ composers!

Good bloody Christmas gods. What a voice Amanda Lyberg has. What immense power she has. This arrangement of Oh Holy Night is tinged with darkness and showcases the horror of The Retaliators, but it’s her voice that captivates. If, like us, you’ve been waiting to hear a version that matched Rob Halford’s version, you’ve found it. Simply stunning.