These hits will have you rockin’ around the Christmas tree for sure
It’s the most rockin’ time of the year.
One of the best parts about the holiday season is the music. There are so many great songs out there, and we’ve put together a list of the Top 20 rock and metal holiday hits. From The Black Crowes to King Diamond, these artists have written original songs and covered Christmas classics that are all required listening during the Yuletide.
20. Def Leppard – “We All Need Christmas”
Who do you call when you need a Christmas power ballad? Def Leppard, of course. With plenty of non-holiday hits under their belt like “Bringin’ On the Heartache,” “Two Steps Behind,” “and When Love and Hate Collide,” its no surprise the band was up to the task of crafting a Christmas ballad.
19. King Diamond – “No Presents for Christmas”
A dramatic shift from our first entry, metal legend King Diamond decided to release his own Christmas tune back in 1988. Despite the sweet intro of the classic “Jingle Bells,” don’t be fooled, for the song swiftly shifts to an all-out metal assault on Yuletide cheer.
18. From Ashes to New – “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
If you’re a metalhead that lets out a big groan the day after Thanksgiving because you know you’re gonna hear Mariah Carey’s perennial holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas is You,” then you’re dig this. Heavy alt-rockers From Ashes to New put their signature spin on this poppy piece. Its heavy, riffy, but still a lot of fun.
17. blink-182 – “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”
The punk rebuttal for the holiday staple “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” blink-182’s original “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” was recorded back in 1997 as a radio promo with original drummer Scott Raynor. And, yes – despite being a Christmas song, it’s still got plenty of the band’s raunchy humor we all know and love.
16. The Black Crowes – “Back Door Santa”
This song was originally recorded by Clarence Carter back in 1968, and The Black Crowes put their spin on it in 2005. Like a few other songs on this list, it’s a perfect little nip of naughty during the holidays.
15. Twisted Sister – “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”
To say Twisted Sister put their signature spin on this enduring song is an understatement. The 80s hair metal champions literally reworked “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” to sound just like their biggest original hit, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” The result? Well, a quintessential Twisted Sister Christmas song. The track was released in 2006 on the band’s holiday album, which is also their latest release.
14. Mark Tremonti – “This Christmas”
This one is pretty straightforward. Over the last decade, fans have found out that Mark Tremonti is not only one of the best guitar players ever, but the guy also has a set of pipes on him. In addition to his solo project Tremonti, the Creed and Alter Bridge axman has released a bunch of Frank Sinatra covers. More recently, he’s turned it into an annual holiday tradition, mixing Sinatra songs with Christmas classics at select shows around the holidays. In 2023, Mark released his first Christmas album – Christmas Classics Old & New. On the album, Tremonti absolutely nails this cover of the Donnie Hathaway staple “This Christmas.” Is there anything this guy can’t do?
13. Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Rudy Sarzo, Simon Wright – “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
This dark, heavy take on the Christmas classic “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” sounds exactly how you think it would when you read the group of artists performing it. Led by the incomparable Ronnie James Dio on vocals and Tony Iommi’s unmistakable guitar style, this epic version is a must every year in your holiday rotation. This song is from an album called We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year, which is definitely worth checking out.
12. Dee Snider and Lzzy Hale – “The Magic of Christmas Day”
Back in 1994, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Sider wrote this song as a Christmas gift for his wife. Four years later, Celine Dion released her own version of the song and made it a huge holiday hit. Finally, in 2020, Snider tapped Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale to record his own version.
11. Bobby Helm – “Jingle Bell Rock (feat. Hank Garland)”
This timeless holiday hit features some great guitar work by the legendary Hank Garland. Certainly not one of the heavier tunes on this list, but Garland’s talent is well-documented. Over his long career, he recorded hits with the likes of Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, and Everly Brothers, contributing to countless hit records. He also plays guitar on Brenda Lee’s Christmas classic, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
10. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime”
Written by Sir Paul himself, “Wonderful Christmastime” was released in November 1979 during a break between projects with Wings. Recorded largely as a solo effort at McCartney’s home studio in Sussex, the track is built around a simple, repeating synthesizer riff inspired by his experimentation with new electronic gear, giving it a distinctly minimalist, new-wave feel compared to traditional holiday standards. Though initially met with mixed critical reaction, “Wonderful Christmastime” steadily became a seasonal staple through radio airplay and compilations, charting annually in multiple countries and earning multi-platinum status in the U.S. Over time, its playful lyrics and unmistakable synth hook have cemented the song as one of the most recognizable—and debated—modern Christmas recordings.
9. Rob Halford – “We Three Kings”
You didn’t know you need a metal version of “We Three Kings” until now. On his holiday album Winter Songs, the Judas Priest frontman stays relatively true to the original but cranks up the volume and quickens the pace. There’s also a killer guitar solo, too.
8. John Lennon – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”
Although it is a holiday favorite for most, this track is actually a protest song. Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the song was released in December 1971, with credit to the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir providing its memorable chorus. Rooted in Lennon and Ono’s anti-Vietnam War activism, the song grew out of their 1969 “War Is Over! If You Want It” billboard campaign, transforming a seasonal format into a message of peace, personal responsibility, and social change. Musically, it borrows the melody of the traditional folk song “Stewball,” pairing a simple, sing-along structure with pointed lyrics that contrast holiday warmth with the realities of conflict. Initially met with mixed reactions due to its overt political stance, the track has since become one of the most enduring modern Christmas songs, regularly returning to holiday playlists and charts as a reminder of Lennon’s belief that peace begins with individual action.
7. The Darkness – “Christmastime (Don’t Let the Bells End)”
The Darkness released their festive Christmas carol at the height of their mainstream breakthrough. Issued as a standalone holiday release during the successful debut album cycle for Permission to Land, the song blends classic glam-rock theatrics with tongue-in-cheek Christmas cheer, featuring soaring falsetto vocals from Justin Hawkins, crunchy guitar riffs, and lyrics that parody traditional seasonal sentiments while still embracing them. The band also released a lavish, deliberately over-the-top music video filled with winter imagery and glam excess. Commercially, the track was a major success in the UK, peaking at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, narrowly missing the Christmas No. 1 spot in 2003—a position that year went to Gary Jules’ version of “Mad World.”
6. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12-24”
If you’ve never seen the Trans-Siberian Orchestra live during the holidays, put it on your bucket list immediately. The group performs an insane number of shows every year with a rotating cast of tremendous musicians, with an epic stage show that tells a story. Their instrumental “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12-24” – a medley that features “Carol of the Bells” – is one of the highlights of their catalog, and their live show. Currently, fans can see the likes of guitarists Chris Caffery (Savatage) and Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) alongside vocalist Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) in the touring lineup.
5. Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
A rock radio staple every year, the spontaneous live performance was recorded during a December 1975 concert at C.W. Post College on Long Island. Backed by the E Street Band, Springsteen transformed the traditional holiday standard into a raucous, horn-driven rock celebration complete with playful stage banter, including his now-famous opening monologue about Santa’s arrival and gift inventory. The performance circulated for years as a fan-favorite bootleg before receiving an official release in 1981 on a promotional 12-inch single for radio stations, where it quickly became a seasonal staple. Springsteen’s version eventually charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 6, making it one of the most commercially successful Christmas songs by a rock artist and a perennial favorite that continues to receive heavy airplay every holiday season.
4. AC/DC – “Mistress for Christmas”
Another one for those on the Naughty List. On their hit 1990 album The Razor’s Edge, rock icons AC/DC let everyone know exactly what they wanted for Christmas. While not released as a single, the song still garners a lot of attention around the holidays. In 2014, Theory of a Deadman released their own version.
3. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “This Christmas Day”
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “This Christmas Day” stands as one of the most heartfelt and enduring tracks in the group’s catalog, telling emotional storytelling about making it home for Christmas. The song originally appeared on TSO’s debut studio album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, which was released in 1996 and marked the beginning of the band’s celebrated Christmas Trilogy. The album has since been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA, making it one of the most commercially successful holiday records of the SoundScan era. The song features dazzling guitar work, and seeing Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) sing it live with Chris Caffery (Savatage) and Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) shredding on guitar is absolutely epic.
2. Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead), Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) – “Run Rudolph Run”
Does it get any better than Lemmy, Dave, and the Reverend Gibbons? Also recorded for the album We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year, this is every bit as good as you think it’s gonna be. A hard rock spin on the original by rock ‘n’ roll godfather Chuck Berry, these three are some of the best to ever do it, and that’s what makes this one of the best rock Christmas songs ever. Billy Gibbons guitar playing is unmistakable, and Lemmy and Dave Grohl still have their Probot chemistry going on.
1. Small Town Titans – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
This cover of the 1966 holiday classic is a mean one, for sure. The original was composed by Albert Hague and the lyrics were written by Theodor Geisel, who most know as Dr. Seuss, for the timeless holiday film How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Actor and singer Thurl Ravenscroft recorded the deep, brooding vocals. Back in 2017, the hard rock band Small Town Titans recorded their own version, which is incredibly heavy. Singer Philip Freeman shows his impressive range, nailing Ravenscroft’s original low notes then roaring to a full-on metal scream. With over 11 million views on YouTube, the song has become a staple for many fans around the holidays.