Rock The Halls: Our Five Favorite Christmas Albums

Forget silent nights; this year we’re talking about heavy metal holidays! In our household, we always enjoy listening to the sounds of the RadioU Christmas Channel. If you’re like us and you enjoy the heavier side of music, there are some really good Christmas selections out there. We decided to give you the 5 Christmas Albums (in no particular order) that are an absolute listen to this holiday season.

August Burns Red - Sleddin’ Hill

Released 2012 by Solid State Record

The first one is an obvious one, Sleddin’ Hill by August Burns Red. The annual tradition of ABR supplying the masses with Christmas music started in 2009 with the release of their version of “Carol of the Bells.” This version would go on to be used on advertisements and television shows. The band would continue to release Christmas singles until the demand grew from songs to a full-length album.

Sleddin’ Hill was released in 2012 and features 13 tracks, but the album would receive a re-release in 2013 (addition of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”) and again in 2014 (addition of “Joy to the World”). The album features holiday staples like “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph,” and “Little Drummer Boy.” There are also some original songs “Flurries” and “Sleddin’ Hill.” The album starts with the beautiful “Flurries” that provides a gentle but still rocky introduction to the album. This song always gets me in the Christmas mood. If you’re looking for an album that will offer a wide variety of instrumental incorporation along with melodic guitar riffs and blasting drum beats, this is an album to put on rotation while you’re trimming the Christmas tree.

Relient K - Let It Snow, Let It Reindeer

Released 2007 by Gotee Records

Next album comes from our favorite Ohio natives, Relient K. Let It Snow, Let It Reindeer is a holiday favorite both critically and commercially. It charted on the Billboard Top 200 chart (peaking at #96) and the Christian charts (peaking at #5 and ending 2008 at #28). Like Sleddin’ Hill, this album features covers of Christmas classics like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Handel’s Messiah.” The band brought their own originals with “Santa Claus Is Thumbing to Town,” “I Hate Christmas Parties” and “Boxing Day.” The band paid respect to the originals while also adding their creative and, at times, silly spin to them.

My personal favorite on this album is “I Celebrate the Day.” The lyrics are impactful with the lyrics “And the first time that you open your eyes did you realize that you would be my Savior?” Incredible line as it shows the sovereignty of Jesus as well as His humanity. Looking down at this precious little gift and realizing that He is going to be the Savior for millions, if not billions of people. If you want a little pop punk in your Christmas playlist, then you need to add Let It Snow, Let It Reindeer.

Various Artists - Happy Christmas, Volume 5

Released 2010 by Tooth & Nail Records

The third album on this list comes to us from Tooth & Nail Records with their compilation album, Happy Christmas Vol. 5. Honestly, we could’ve put any of the versions on this list, but this one gives us a great mixture of original and cover songs featuring a variety of Tooth & Nail artists. Some of the highlights include “The Wind” by Demon Hunter, “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by Sent by Ravens and “Zat U Santa Claus” by Neon Horse. I love that the album includes both of Trevor McNevan’s bands covering the Christmas classics “Heat Miser” with Thousand Foot Krutch and “Snow Miser” with FM Static. The album contrasts the two songs, allowing "Heat Miser" to crank up the heavy intensity while "Snow Miser" maintains a lighter, softer musical approach.

Every song gets better and better as you go through the track list. The different offerings feel like a musical smorgasbord as you get metal, rock and electronic. But those offerings are typical of what we get from the Happy Christmas variety. Sadly, this was the last offering in the series as we haven’t had a Happy Christmas since this release in 2010. It also is not available on Spotify, however there are several Youtube playlists that include every track on the album.

Various Artists - Midnight Clear

Released 2014 by Solid State Records

Similar to the previous Tooth & Nail compilation album, this next album features bands from Solid State Records. This album was released back in 2014 and it still hits just as hard as the day it was released. This features Solid State staples August Burns Red, Wolves at the Gate, Fit For A King and Becoming The Archetype as well as special guests For Today and Memphis May Fire. Even though I put Wolves at the Gate’s Lowborn EP on the honorable mention list, we still get an album on this list that features WATG’s “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “The King.”

This also features a fun and wild rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock” by The Ongoing Concept. TOC is a chaotic metal band that reminds me so much of Josh Scogin and The Chariot. You also get a cover of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” by For Today that will pound your ear drums with metal breakdowns and brutal vocal presence of Mattie Montgomery. So many good songs that bring out the heavy metal side of Christmas. If you’re a metal head and you don’t have this on your playlist, please reconsider the choices you make in your life.

Family Force 5 - Family Force 5’s Christmas Pageant

Released 2009 by Tooth & Nail Records

The last album on our list comes to us from southern family rockers, Family Force 5 with their one and only Christmas album Family Force 5’s Christmas Pageant. This was released back in October 2009 and released between their Dance or Die and III releases. This album also featured a tour that included House of Heroes, Remedy Drive and All Left Out. The boys experienced success with this release as it charted on Billboard Christian albums (peaked at #24) and Dance/Electronic album chart (peaked at #11).

Just as the other albums on this list, this album featured Christmas classics like “Carol of the Bells,” “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “My Favorite Things.” It also included original songs like “The Baby” and “It’s Christmas Day.” The latter song is uncharacteristic of the band as any avid listener recognizes the band’s sound as energetic, fun and making you want to dance. However, “It’s Christmas Day” is a song that slows down and while it’s not completely a ballad, there are some aspects of the song that make you reflect on the importance of family and knowing that you have people in your life that love you. Overall, it’s a great album that will make you get up and dance under the mistletoe!

While there were many albums we could have highlighted, these were our Top 5. Here’s some honorable mentions: X Christmas - Various Artists (released through BEC Recordings), Wolves at the Gate - Lowborn (features our favorite rendition of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus) and Happy Christmas Vol. 4 - Various Artists (BEC & Tooth and Nail Artists). 

It’s always fun to see your favorite bands make their own version of a Christmas classic or create their own original Christmas song. We at Solid Rock Unplugged enjoy this time of the year. Not only because of the music, but also because of the message of love, hope and peace that comes along with it. This season isn’t just about presents, food and parties. We have been given the greatest gift of all time through the birth of a Savior. We hope you enjoyed this list and everything else that we have offered this year. We want to wish you and everyone else a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in 2026!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:9-12 (NIV)

Wolves At The Gate: “Wasteland” Album Review

For years, Wolves At The Gate has dominated the Christian metal genre. Hailing from Ohio, the five piece metal band released their sixth album, Wasteland in May. This is their first venture into crafting a hard-hitting, immersive concept album, which follows a musical journey through a dystopian society while wrestling with the concept of sin. Ultimately, they find redemption and hope, while in a world filled with pain and suffering. 

I had the pleasure of seeing them live at Uprise Festival last year, where they debuted multiple songs off this record. The same energy and hard hitting messages that were felt during that performance were transcribed perfectly onto this album. They have become a mainstay in the Christian metal scene and Wasteland just adds to an already impressive catalogue

Wasteland Album Review

Tracks: 13

Length: 35 minutes

Release Date: May 30, 2025

Label: Solid State Records

The “INT[r]O” sets the dystopian tone of the album, starting with an eerie and unsettling guitar riff, leading right into hard hitting “(The Wasteland) PAIN.” It has the familiar sound of a Wolves at the Gate song, with passionate lyrics crafted by both Nick and Steve pouring themselves into writing this first song. I love the line: 

“Why are we shocked by the dark of this age? Hearts made for beauty are poisoned with rage…Against our Maker, we’re poisoned with rage.” 

This song shines a mirror on the state of our current society. We have drifted away from God and His true purpose. This theme weaves throughout the entire album, the idea that living without God, living in sin, is comparable to living in a wasteland.  The album continues with “Parasite", a heavy guitar and dynamic vocal driven track.  Just like “(The Wasteland) PAIN,” the well crafted lyrics drive home the grim wasteland/sin comparison.

When I heard the song “Synthetic Sun” for the first time, I almost thought it was a Linkin Park song. From the drum-heavy intro to the grungy guitar riffs, this is sure to get the crowd moving in live concerts!  There were times when I was impressed with the quick-fire pacing of Nick’s screams to match Steve’s melody, which seemed to draw comparisons to Chester and Mike of Linkin Park.

To keep the listener immersed in their dystopian world, Wolves At The Gate uses interludes to connect songs. “Wandering,” “Withering,” “Wasting,” and "Wanting” are instrumentals filled with dystopian synths, reminiscent of an end-of-the-world sci-fi movie. Along with these electronic samples, spoken word portions help push the storyline through from song to song. 

Progressing through Wasteland, “Law of the (Waste) Land” will definitely get the pit moving in their live shows. Whether you like old fashioned moshing or getting in a little two-step hardcore dancing, the dynamic riffs and double bass would suit either fancy. “Smoke (False Devils)” and “Death Clock” are fast paced songs that showcase the musical and lyrical talent that WATG offers. The driven basslines and melodic riffs will be sure to have you headbanging along. These songs translate very well from a recorded album to live concerts. Aside from the musical talent, the lyrics that Steve writes makes you ponder and question what you’re doing with your life.

Moving towards the end of the album, the constant message leading up to this point is how can there be any hope in this wasteland? Where is the good amongst the destruction? We are self-destructive and in need of something to believe in. “Wasting” brings the transition in the theming with the spoken word, “another voice sings a chorus of hope.” This leads into “Memento Mori,” which is a passionate plea for the gospel.

“You could never go too far away from the hands that hold our sorrows. You feel the walls closing in, but you are not alone.” 

Every time I’ve seen WATG live, Steve has always given a passionate plea for people to turn to the gospel and devoting their lives to Jesus Christ. This is the mission and vision of WATG, to see people come to know Christ and have Him change everything about their life. The album ends with “Unrest.” From the opening scream to Steve’s smooth voice, this song starts out aggressively to smoothing out, as if the listener was caught in the struggle between leaving and going back to the wasteland. I love the lines in this song about the hope that we find in Christ: 

“Come out of the wasteland. I’ll take you by my hand. I know your heart is pressed. So come to me and find your rest.” 

We’re not perfect. We still struggle. But, God knows this and He is there for us. In the moments when we struggle, those are moments we need to reach out to God and ask for help.

Overall, Wasteland is one of the best records of the year. Wolves at the Gate is unapologetically passionate about what they believe in. They’re not pushy, but they certainly want you to know that they believe in God, while offering that hope to others. In this album, Steve and Nick prove why they are incredible writers. Each song packs a punch, encouraging us to examine ourselves and our willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and change our lives.

If you get a chance this fall, they’re setting out on tour with Emery for select dates, so catch them on the road. Be sure to take the time to listen to this album, because every single second is worth listening to! It’s got everything, from distorted riffs that make you want to move, to grooves that will get you bouncing. They took a risk with a concept album and it paid off perfectly! I would give this album 5 out of 5 stars. Great lyrics, great music, great concept. Loved every single minute of it!