Top 5 Albums That Are Perfect For December

Happy Holidays fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We all get into the Christmas season whenever a jingle pops into our heads. That one little tune that comes across the radio (or something random on youtube or TV), and we immediately get visions of snow & merriment with the ones we love. When we come across whole albums, then the holiday season becomes a force that simply can’t be ignored. Below are 5 records that we should all listen to during this month. These releases are imbued with the essence of this month, and are either brutal & cold, or heartwarming & charming. Either way, once you listen to these, you can never ignore them when it comes to this time of year. So with that said, here are the top 5 albums that are perfect for December. Enjoy!

5) Vintersorg - Till Fjälls (Sample Song)

We start off this list with a trip to Sweden. Since the late 90s, Vintersorg has produced their unique brand of Folk Metal mixed with elements of Black & Progressive Metal, and have amassed a sizable army of fans since then. Their first release, Till Fjälls, is considered to be a classic amongst metal fans, and for a good reason. It’s a very moody & atmospheric album, filled with equal parts fury & emotion, and Andreas Hedlund’s vocal works is a combo of clear segments & controlled Black Metal howls. Coupled with instrumentation that combines typical Heavy Metal elements, traditional Folk instruments, and sound effects that evoke nature, Vikings, along with the supernatural, and you have a starting release that’s makes for a great metal recommendation.

4) Katatonia - Dance Of December Souls (Sample Song)

Continuing our trip through Sweden, our next album comes from a band that’s considered to have helped establish the Death-Doom genre back in the early 90s. I have to admit, Dance Of December Souls is ahead of Vintersorg’s first album, simply because it’s got the word “December” in it’s album title. On the other hand, this is a frosty album! Katatonia, particularly in their early years, created some highly atmospheric CDs, and their first outing has an incredible atmosphere! Dance Of December Souls is a seamless work, invoking elements of fantasy, the chill of winter, and the darkness that the season can sometimes bring. All of this comes together to form a starting record that, much like Till Fjälls, is a great way to begin a career. Definitely recommended!

3) Eisbrecher - Eisbrecher (Sample Song)

Truth be told, I could have picked practically any of Eisbrecher’s releases. All of them are fantastic Industrial Metal albums, filled with power, emotion, ice, and even songs about sailing. For simplicity’s sake, however, I’m going with the band’s first release, simply titled after the group’s name. You know you’re off to a good start when the first song of the album, Polarstern (Polaris), basically lists the statistics of an icebreaker ship, and to an Industrial beat. The rest of the album goes through many different emotions, all the while covering the listener in a healthy coat of frost, and coming at you with a surprising amount of heaviness. Eisbrehcer’s first album always sends chills up my spine any other time of the year, but on December, it’s icy grip is particularly potent!

2) Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas (Sample Song)

Now here we come to some Christmas music proper!

Okay, maybe it’s not completely proper. When it comes to Twisted Sister, everything is turned on it’s head. Even the holiday season isn’t safe, and A Twisted Christmas is proof of this! From the beginning of the first track (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) you know that you’re in for a twisted ride. At the same time, the band shows respect towards these classic songs in their own strange way. There’s still that Twisted Sister charm in each & every track, but at the same time there’s still some of that original heart & soul as well. If you want your Christmas season to be a little twisted, this is the album for you!

1) John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Sample Song)

Yes fellow Otaku & Metalheads, John Denver. Perhaps one of the most un-metal musician to ever grace the world of music, I none-the-less respect this man for the legacy of Folk Music he created, not to mention how much of a decent human being he was. Mr. Denver was also known for creating some great Christmas specials, with none being more classic than his first special with the Muppets back in the 70s. Sadly, the special has never had a re-mastering: I had a hard time looking for the reason, but from what I read from one comment on youtube (On the actual special no less), the reason is because it’s not technically a Jim Henson, but a John Denver special that just happened to have the Muppets on it. The one thing that has managed to come back from time to time is the music from that special, compiled onto a record (Eventually a CD) known simply as John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together.

A Christmas Together makes it to number 1 through sheer nostalgia. The music that was on this album is stuff I’ve heard since I was very young, and when it came time to decorate the tree, this CD would be the first, if not one of the first, music collections to get put into the player. I honestly can’t stress how fantastic the songs on here are. I’ll fully admit I enjoy some wackier Christmas tracks, but you’ll not find a better collection of calming holiday music out there! There’s some silliness on here, but that’s to be expected. This is Christmas music designed to warm the heart, to bring family & friends together in the spirit of the occasion, and just to create some nice feelings. No Christmas, at least in our household, is complete with this album. Recommended beyond belief!

So these were the top 5 albums that are perfect for December. Hopefully they left some goosebumbs on your arms, infused you with the holiday spirit, or some combination of the two! See you all later this week, when we’ll take a look at a metal overview that’s very much in-tuned to the season. Until then, check these albums out, and share them with your friends!



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If you’re curious about the John Denver/Muppets holiday special, then check out the link below:

John Denver Christmas Special