August Burns Red
Sleddin’ Hill

Here’s something you don’t hear every day: the songs that made Burl Ives and Bing Crosby Christmas icons getting the hesher treatment. Instead of setting the dial for “six degrees past face-melting”, Pennsylvania metalcore mavens August Burns Red go the almost-symphonic, instrumental route. While less-discerning skids like FUBAR’s Terry and Deaner will no doubt find the fret-shredding reworkings of “Sleigh Ride” and “Winter Wonderland” a little too high-falutin’, discerning bangers will be delighted to hear there’s finally a metal alternative to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. With a bit of imagination, you can easily envision a long-haired, bong-blasted Baby Jesus sacrificing a goat to “Little Drummer Boy”. Now hoist those devil horns high because, even though you’ve heard “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” before, you’ve never heard it like this, and not just because of the oompah-polka breakdown.