HELIX – A Heavy Mental Christmas

It’s a time when 80’s Rock and Metal acts seem to be coming out of the woodwork to earn the money of youth, that aren’t necessarily wild, but rather youth that has grown up and is hopefully earning a living. Perhaps none of that is true for Canada’s Rock icons Helix who essentially never truly went away, thanks in part to Brian Vollmer’s tenacity to keep Helix alive. Brian is of course the only one of six original members still actively involved in Helix.

So Helix is back after releasing the commendable The Power Of Rock And Roll release last year. This time though their unleashing their Rock version of a Christmas CD, A Heavy Mental Christmas, that rises above and beyond some of the past “Metal” Christmas releases.

Helix adds a great Hard Rock touch to some true Christmas classics like “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bell Rock”. The guitar riffs actually add some “balls” to these tunes that should satisfy most Rockers. Someone in the band, Vollmer perhaps, has a Beatles fetish as Helix has included acceptable covers of McCartney’s “A Wonderful Christmas Time” and Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”. The most unique track here though is “Sock It To Me Santa” which is a cover that’s done in the style of James Brown, i.e. “Santa’s got a brand new bag”.

Helix even went as far as adding some style of their own with a Helix Christmas original… “Christmas Time Is Here Again”. The tune is an upbeat, blues based Rocker that is an excellent way to finish off this disc. Unfortunately, the song has the same feel, and almost the same beat as The Power Of Rock And Roll’s “The Past Is Back To Kick Your Ass”, but all is forgiven as this track has some great lead guitar work.

While it only clocks in at about 23 minutes, A Heavy Mental Christmas does a good job at providing a solid Hard Rock take on a bunch of Christmas classics while resulting in something that every Rocker should find as listenable and enjoyable but rather short! This one isn’t as heavy as this year’s Armoury Records’ release… We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year, but certainly better then 2006’s Holiday debacle release by Twisted Sister. This one is certainly worth spending some of your Christmas cash on if just to get a head start on next year’s Christmas party music!

Lineup

Brian Vollmer – Lead vocals
Paul Fonseca – Bass
Jim Lawson – Lead guitar
Brent Niemi – Drums
Rick Van Dyk – Lead guitar

Track Listing

1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
3. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
4. A Wonderful Christmas Time
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
7. Sock It To Me Santa
8. Jingle Bells
9. Silent Night
10. Christmas Time Is Here Again!