Customer Reviews

Halford III - Winter Songs

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a surprisingly well rounded Christmas record. The moods range from solemn, to playful, to triumphant, and back again. The arrangements are great, the production is great, and (most importantly) the singing is terrific. Highlights were-- Get Into the Spirit, which did in fact get me into the spirit; and Winter Song, which was genuinely powerful and moving to me. The traditional selections were well chosen and given excellent renditions as well. I highly recommend this record to any of the more cheerful metal-heads out there.

Don't think just because this is Christmas music that it doesn't rock. Remember who is singing it. I will be putting this one in the CD player along with my Twisted Sister Christmas CD and I will bang my head around the Christmas Tree! Rob's voice sounds so clear on this CD and yes there are some good metal screams. "Oh Holy Night" sounds so good that it brought a tear to my eye. Buy it, you won't be dissapointed.

The idea of Rob Halford singing Christmas songs is to many, frankly, a contradictory pairing. Somehow this odd bit of alchemy works, and works quite well. The musicianship is superb, and the songs range from the understated What Child is This to the anthemic final track, O Come All Ye Faithful. Halford is a unique talent, and while many will dismiss this effort without ever hearing it, I've been burning it up in the CD player since it arrived. The dreamlike, soul-baring confessional Light of the World is as great a song of faith as I've ever heard. After hearing it for a week, I looked to see who wrote this. Surprise: Rob Halford. Listen to the sample tracks on amazon.com, this is a powerful album, I highly recommend it

It was very refreshing indeed to hear the voice of JP sing traditional Christmas songs, not about Santa Clause, but about the real reason for the season, and that is the Savior of the world - Jesus.

This disc/download is amazing. I am totally blown away by this release. It is definitely my favorite holiday album of all time. Gotta give the man props for not being afraid to take chances, and IT REALLY WORKS! Who'da thunk it? Rob Halford got me into the holiday spirit.
The best info I could find on this release was a
REVIEW from [...] by Dan 'Soft Boy' Skiba
Release date Nov. 3, 2009
Metal Express Rating 9.0/10

"Halford 3 - Winter Songs is comprised of 10 tracks with a total running time of about 41 minutes. 4 of the tracks are original Halford compositions (with consult mainly from guitarist Roy Z.), 5 are metalized covers of traditional Holiday Classics ("We Three Kings," "Oh Come O Come Emanuel," "What Child Is This?," "Oh Holy Night," and "Come All Ye Faithful"), and 1 track is a beautiful, tear-jerking cover of a less known Holiday-based track by Sara Bareilles (and the inspiration behind the name of the album) entitled "Winter Song," begging for an answer to the question, "Is Love Alive?" To be sure, you'll find that answer when you listen closely ...

The album starts out with 1 of the Halford originals, "Get Into The Spirit;" a track that would serve as an excellent kick-off to ANY Metal album. The musical flavor here is curiously part Doom and part Industrial, but without a doubt, as Metal as Metal can be. The message essentially is a calling to gather, to push away distractions, and to get ready to celebrate and energize one's spirits. With Halford's slicing vocal style and the impressive guitar work displayed in this up-tempo rocker, Halford certainly lays the foundation and attitude for a true Metal Christmas compilation.

The other Halford original tracks unfold in succession midway through this album ... and that trilogy segment begins with "Christmas For Everyone," a song with a thick and driving Hard Rock presentation that also features a few well-placed conventional Holiday sounds via bells and keyboards. By and large this is a light "feel good" song topically, but most notable here is its insightfully catchy chorus:

"When Christmas comes for everyone
It brings us all together ...
For just one day there's peace in the world
We wish would last forever"

Indeed a nice reflection to muse upon ...

The next Halford original is "I Don't Care," which on the surface certainly seems to butt heads with the typical glad tidings associated with the Holiday Season. What this song is, though, is a track inspired by one of the funniest movies of all times, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (starring Steve Martin and the late, great John Candy), and deals with the occasional trials and tribulations all have faced at one time or another in trying to get everything done and to arrive at that ultimate, elusive Christmas destination ... on time. "I Don't Care" has an underlying Chuck Berry vibe running through it, and shows a rare tongue-in-cheek comical side of Halford's writing moxie.

The last Halford penned original is a track that may surprise many, entitled "Light Of The World." Only on rare occasion has Halford, either with Judas Priest or as part of any of his solo projects, ventured into matters of the heart ... but "Light Of The World" certainly shows Halford is more than capable of capturing and conveying aspects of the emotions surrounding the truly special gift of being in love. Although more melancholy, the covered track "Winter Song" also deeply embraces this same theme, and together with this song Halford drives home the message of how true love can be the most important, warming, hope-producing, and radiantly powerful "light" of all shared between two people. You might just find a few apparent influences in "Light Of The World" borrowed (perhaps unintentionally) from The Beatles' December 1995 single "Free As A Bird." Regardless, "Light Of The World" could indeed catch on and be one of those songs that is listened to and enjoyed by many generations for years and years to come.

The remaining 5 covered songs, as mentioned above, are metalized interpretations of traditional Christmas classics, containing various manifestations of Halford's personalized vocal stamp. "We Three Kings," "Oh Come O Come Emanuel," and "Oh Holy Night" have remarkably taken on a new Metal life via Halford's renditions and are certain to get the adrenaline flowing for Metalheadz from all walks of life. "What Child Is This?" and "Come All Ye Faithful," to differentiate, are presented in a much more reflective, spiritual, and majestic fashion. "What Child Is This?" includes those wonderful patented multi-layered Halford voice-overs that have contributed to setting The Metal God apart from all others in the business, and "Come All Ye Faithful" hits home as a great way to end this album in a "let's all unite and gather together" fashion."

Have some fun...For those metal heads who are as close-minded as they come.Loosen up.Of course it's Rob Halford,Metal God.There's no bigger fan than me,when it comes to Priest,Halford,Fight and so on.He and the boys had some fun with Xmas and original songs.He did add the Halford touch to the Xmas originals.For me,I'm not going to look at him any different.Whenever the new Halford,Judas Priest or whatever comes out,I'm sure it will be heavy and in your face as anything from Halford in the past.So,just sit back and enjoy Halford having a little holiday fun. BTW,I did enjoy the album and would recommend it to any open-minded Priest fan who doesn't have his/her head stuck in the 70's and 80's Priest.I mean,what did you expect,Points of Entry,Sad Wings of Destiny,Sin After Sin or Stained Class? If you did some research,you would see the title is Winter Songs...LOL RNR~~~~

I really liked this CD. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I've always liked Rob's voice, with JP and his solo stuff, so it was a no-brainer to pick up this release. For starters, I'm not a huge fan of Christmas albums, but this just worked for me. Emotion pours out of Rob's voice, and this gave these songs real substance. I prayed when I set the disc in my computer that this wasn't a "joke" or "farce" CD, but it's really not. Winter Song is quite beautiful. And I didn't think it was possible to head-bang to holiday classics like Christmas For Everyone - but you can! I loved it!

My buddy keyed me into this bit... Rob Halfords Christmas album! Well, sort of. The concept of metal Christmas albums is nothing new, but in the past it is a concept only partaken by the cheesier side of the metal spectrum. In my eyes Rob Halford is the voice of what is truly metal, blood curdling, triumphant wails delivered in a high ear splitting pitch. Seriously, I'd say Rob Halford is the greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time, and he still delivers the goods, so to speak.

This album is obviously not one I would play for the grandparents--- unless your grandparents happen to take acid on the regular. OR, are just in line for an intense experience. This isn't your red and white sweater, glass of egg nog album around the fire. These are songs of holy triumph (ok, one or two songs show Robby trying to give us a chestnuts roasting type diddy- but they are the awkward spots on the disc...) For the most part, I'd say this album is meant to played through some big fat headphones, while you sit in your chair and watch Passion Of Christ on Blu Ray. When Halford covers the traditional religious anthems, he is truly in his element, and all your expectations of holiday cheese go right out the window... Fall on your knees and hear the angels voices!!! This is killer.

When I found out about this album, I had VERY low expectations after hearing Twisted Sister and Billy Idol's efforts last year.

However, there is no comparison. This is fantastic. Great vocals, great music, great production. I was surprised that Rob chose 5 songs singing about Christ. He could have done the same things other rockers do- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Jingle Bells, etc., but he did 5 songs about Jesus and they were tastefully done.

The 5 songs he wrote were good also.

Now what I'd like to see are Christmas albums by AC/DC, ZZ Top, Dio, Deep Purple, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.

Certainly a departure from the norm, as any artist's Chrismas album would be, this still has the merit of bringing the Spirit of Christmas to anyone who enjoys Metal or Hard Rock. I can't honestly remember the last time I sang the praises of Jesus and God and Peace on Earth with such enthusiasum. The rocked up versions of these holiday hymns could warm even a non-believer's heart as they sing along! The familiar songs don't stray from their origins very far, and the new songs have grown on me the louder I listen to them. If you like Judas Priest or any of Rob Halfords solo projects... and aren't a Grinch, get this CD!!!