Rob Halford (with Family & Friends) - Celestial (2019)

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Rob Halford (with Family & Friends) - Celestial (2019)

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Heavy metal and the holiday season might not seem like the most obvious pairing. But there’s nothing wrong with loving both, as Rob Halford is here to prove. The legendary Judas Priest frontman and solo artist loves Christmas more than you could know. And for his second Christmas-themed album—coming a decade after his first, Winter Songs—he’s given traditional carols a metal makeover, alongside four new original songs. Chances are you already know the centuries-old melodies of “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” But you’ve never heard them quite like this, all speedy, chunky riffs and wild guitar solos. Still, it’s feel-good, sweetly melodic, and (mostly) family-friendly, especially during gentler moments such as the organ-driven “The First Noel” and the epic original closing hymn “Protected by the Light.” Written and recorded by a group that includes Halford’s brother and sister, Nigel and Sue, his nephew Alex (whose father is Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill), and guitarists Robert Jones and Jon Blakey, it’s truly a festive family affair. “It was wonderful when I had the first chance to dig my metal boots into the Christmas pudding with Winter Songs”, the Metal God tells Apple Music. “I wasn't really sure how the fans would respond, but it was really good. I always was waiting for an opportunity to get back into the Christmas spirit, and now I've been able to do it in a very, very special way.” Get ready for your best and most metal Christmas yet with Rob Halford’s guide to Christmas.

Yes, you can love metal and Christmas

“Metal has always been kicking down doors. There haven't been very many Christmas experiences in metal over the decades. But I've never been afraid to search and enjoy and have adventures with all different possibilities. At the heart of it, it's all about love and peace and music and being with each other and celebrating with the family and friends. The whole Christmas miracle is sensational, it’s so enigmatic and mysterious. I think we're constantly on a journey here. Will the journey ever end in some big discovery? I don't think it ever will, and I don't want it to. It’s just this whole beautiful, universal, larger-than-life thing.”

Enjoy the simple things on Christmas Day

“As I've gotten older, I've simplified my life. At this point, the important things tend to be the simple ones. So I'll be back in the UK, in my little tiny house in Walsall that means the world to me. It’s all about the morning ritual really, isn't it? It's about going downstairs and seeing what Santa has left under the tree. I’ll have my morning tea with my bran flakes, because, as an old person, you have to keep your bowels regular, and I always like going on a walk—I do a lot of walking these days. As the day progresses, friends will stop by for a mince pie and a cup of tea and chit-chats, and later, I'll have a big Christmas meal with my family. In my wilder days, it was all about getting smashed out of your tree. But now, it’s very simple, beautiful, and uncomplicated.”

Get creative with your caroling

“I have to acknowledge the wonderful work that the guys did in arranging all of this beautiful music while I was working and touring with Priest for almost two years. I'm just so happy that they took these big leaps forward. I didn't know what to expect, but when these demos were coming over to me on my phone, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is unbelievable!’ On ‘Deck the Halls,’ when it goes into that half-time Birmingham metal vibe, I couldn't have been happier. You look at that title and you have no clue what's going to come out the speakers. Everybody knows what that song is about. The music, these well-known songs, have taken a new light onto themselves.”

Make your own new traditions (and songs)

“I always thought [the story of Santa’s reindeer] was just about Rudolph! Then I looked at the story, and I was thinking about it, and this idea just came. It’s just the way your brain works as a musician. It was this idea of Santa and the reindeer blasting around at the speed of light, that kind of thing. I thought, what a great way to wrap that message into the really strong power of the musical arrangement. It’s a wonderful lift-up point after the sound effects of the opening piece. You’re immediately off; you're roaring. Mike [Exeter], our producer, thought that the best placement for ‘Donner and Blitzen’ would be at the front end. Because, look, it's Rob Halford, and when you say that name, a lot of things start flying around your head musically.”

Show some love to your friends and family

“I couldn't believe how the music for Celestial was coming together. What it represents for me is how well-articulated the guys can be, especially in terms of arranging big pieces, like ‘Good King Wenceslas.’ It works so well towards the back end of the record as it fades out, because it is a big moment. In terms of sequencing, I think it would have been a little bit too much to try and digest at the front end of the record. But coming after 'The First Noel,’ which is very stripped down with the church organ, into this next dimension, which is very, very adventurous and full of imagery and all these wonderful sounds and dynamics, it’s just huge. I was thrilled. I couldn't wait to get behind the mic and put my voice on that track.”