Description
Rob Halford With Family & Friends – Celestial – 150 Gram Vinyl Record
150 gram vinyl
Halford’s Celestial (2019) is a festive holiday album featuring the legendary Judas Priest frontman, often hailed as the “Metal God,” in a different light. Known for his powerful voice and contributions to heavy metal, Rob Halford took a break from his typical metal anthems to create a Christmas album that blends traditional holiday cheer with a heavy metal twist. Halford collaborated with members of his family and friends on this project, making Celestial a unique and personal offering.
The album is a mix of original compositions and metal-infused renditions of classic Christmas carols, showcasing Halford’s versatility as a vocalist and his ability to inject the spirit of metal into the holiday season. While it’s a departure from his usual Judas Priest material, Celestial is still marked by Halford’s signature energy and vocal power, making it a must-listen for metal fans looking to get into the Christmas spirit.
Celestial combines the festive, warm sounds of Christmas music with heavy metal’s intense guitar riffs, thundering drums, and, of course, Halford’s powerful voice. The result is a unique fusion where holiday classics are given a hard-edged, energetic twist.
While many of the tracks are covers of traditional Christmas songs, they are modernized with distorted guitars, double bass drumming, and soaring metal vocals. The production keeps a balance between the joy of Christmas melodies and the intensity of metal, creating a refreshing take on holiday music.
One of the album’s special features is that Halford is joined by family members, including his brother Nigel Halford on drums and his nephew Alex Hill on bass (son of Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill). This personal touch gives the album a family vibe, making it both heartwarming and fun.
Key Tracks
“Donner and Blitzen”: One of the original songs on the album, “Donner and Blitzen” is a high-energy metal anthem that celebrates the famous reindeer of Christmas lore. The track features fast-paced guitar riffs and Halford’s soaring vocals, embodying the excitement of the season with a heavy metal twist. It’s one of the standout tracks, full of energy and festive spirit.
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”: This classic Christmas carol is reimagined with a heavy, dark edge, as Halford’s commanding voice delivers the familiar melody over grinding guitars and pounding drums. The combination of traditional lyrics and modern metal instrumentation makes this track a highlight of the album.
“Deck the Halls”: Another well-known holiday classic, “Deck the Halls” gets a metal makeover with crunchy guitar riffs and a driving rhythm. The upbeat arrangement keeps the song’s festive feel intact while adding a layer of heaviness that makes it both fun and dynamic.
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”: Halford gives this carol an anthemic quality, with a grand, soaring arrangement that fits his vocal style perfectly. The track builds from a traditional opening to a full-blown metal anthem, with guitars and drums lifting the song into epic territory.
“Celestial”: The title track, an instrumental, showcases the band’s musicianship with a beautiful, melodic metal sound. It offers a reflective, atmospheric break from the more high-energy tracks and adds depth to the album.
Most of the songs on Celestial revolve around the traditional themes of Christmas—joy, celebration, family, and togetherness. The familiar lyrics of classic carols, such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Deck the Halls,” are kept intact, making the album feel festive and accessible despite the heavy instrumentation.
Halford also includes a few original compositions, like “Donner and Blitzen” and “Morning Star,” which fit seamlessly into the album’s Christmas theme. These songs maintain the holiday spirit while injecting Halford’s signature metal style.
The album’s collaborative nature, with Halford working alongside his family and friends, adds a personal layer to the themes of togetherness and joy that are central to Christmas. This gives the album a heartfelt, intimate quality, despite its heavy metal framework.
As expected, Halford’s voice is the driving force behind the album. His ability to hit high notes with power and precision, even after decades of performing, is on full display here. His vocal delivery on traditional carols is both commanding and reverent, making the familiar songs feel fresh and intense. The album’s guitar work, provided by Robert Jones and Jon Blakey, is key to its metal sound. Whether it’s heavy, chugging riffs on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” or melodic, atmospheric playing on “Celestial,” the guitars give the album its edge while maintaining the integrity of the Christmas melodies. Halford’s brother Nigel Halford and nephew Alex Hill provide the foundation with solid drumming and bass work, respectively. Their performances keep the songs tight and rhythmically engaging, grounding the album’s more energetic moments with a strong groove.
Celestial continues the tradition of metal musicians embracing the Christmas spirit, much like Twisted Sister’s A Twisted Christmas or Christopher Lee’s metal Christmas singles. Halford’s album stands out for its balance between festive warmth and heavy metal intensity, appealing to both metal fans and those looking for a new spin on holiday music. While the album is full of the high-octane energy fans expect from Halford, its personal nature—featuring family members and close collaborators—gives it a unique charm. The album feels like a celebration of both Christmas and the shared joy of making music with loved ones.
Celestial shows Halford’s versatility as an artist, proving that even after decades in heavy metal, he can still surprise and innovate. His ability to adapt classic Christmas songs into metal anthems without losing their essence highlights his skill as both a vocalist and a musician.
Celestial by Rob Halford with Family & Friends is a unique and spirited holiday album that blends the power and intensity of heavy metal with the warmth and joy of Christmas music. With a mix of original songs and metal versions of classic carols, the album is both festive and heavy, offering a fresh take on the traditional Christmas sound. Featuring Halford’s iconic vocals and contributions from his family members, Celestial is not only a celebration of the holiday season but also a testament to Halford’s versatility and enduring legacy in the world of metal.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Celestial Written By – Mike Exeter, Rob Halford
Donner And Blitzen Written By – Mike Exeter, Rob Halford
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Away In A Manger
Morning Star Written By – Rob Halford
Deck The Halls
Joy To The World
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The First Noel
Good King Wenceslas
Protected By The Light
