🎅 Fjordhammer's Festive Friday 🎅 (18th December 2020)

🎄Time To Start Feeling Festive! 🎄

I apologise for skipping last week's Fjordhammer Friday! As Christmas/Yule is round the corner, I've been making sure that I am fully prepared for the festivities. I was also getting back into my gym and work routine, so it all caught up with me and I needed to take the evening off. I'm also in the process of working out how to revamp the weekly feature to make it as varied as possible. Anyway, I'm starting to get into the festive spirit now, that warmth and wholesomeness is slowly creeping in and around my black and dark soul, bringing that fuzzy feeling you get around this time of year. Yes, I know, not very metal but who cares its Christmas! Drink and be merry! Talking of the big day, as it falls on Friday next week, there won't be a Fjordhammer Friday, so I am making this week's edition the Christmas Special. I have scoured the depths of Bandcamp to find only the best festive metal tunes out there, as I have been saying no Wham, Mariah Carey or any radio Christmas hits here, as we can all agree that they're overplayed and a bit stale now, not to mention the artist flogging the proverbial dead money horse. All that aside, one of the highlights of my week was learning how to say Merry Christmas in Finnish and bellowing it round the house, it's just so fun to say! So without anymore waffling, I present to you Fjordhammer's Festive Friday! I have chosen bands from a variety of genres to accommodate everyone's festive palette. So sit back, grab a beer and be merry to this awesome metal Christmas songs! 🍻

Sterbhaus (🇸🇪)

Location: Stockholm

Genre: Thrash/Death Metal

Record Label(s): Black Lodge Records

Dedicated to Santa's Alpin opposite, the Krampus, this is the metal version that he deserves. A hefty dose of death and thrash formulated in the signature Swedish fashion. With some elements of classic heavy metal bringing to life this awesome and thrilling Christmas legend with a dose of humour, it is not an EP to be missed!

Bandcamp

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Spotlight On - Krampusnacht 

Martin and The Vampires (🇸🇪)

Location: Sundbyberg

Genre: Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore

Record Label(s): Independent

A short and brutal Christmas song, despite the name, these guys aren't here to mess around! Bursting in with heavy, chugging deathcore riffs with the speed of Napalm Death. They definitely will dismember your ear drums. 

Bandcamp

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Spotlight On - Dismember December

Grim Christmas (🇺🇸)

Location: Arvada, Colorado

Genre: Black Metal

Record Label(s): Big Name Records

Are you bored of the usual Christmas carols? Well, look no further than here for a Trve Kvlt alternative! From the mad mind of Jon Lervold (from Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze), Santa meets Satan in these brutal takes on traditional Christmas carols. Everyone loves a laugh, and this whole concept had me in stitches!

Bandcamp

Spotlight On - Grim Christmas

Papacy (🇺🇸)

Location: New York

Genre: Black Metal

Record Label(s): Independent 

Another Trve Kvlt take on some classic Christmas carols. This one takes itself a bit more seriously though, blending eerie synths with grim black metal atmospheres. Definitely one that is perfect for these long, dark and cold winter nights. Also, Papacy's other material is pretty awesome too!

Bandcamp

Facebook

Spotlight On - Antichristmass 

Blood Thirsty (🇺🇸)

Location: Huntersville, North Carolina

Genre: Brutal/Symphonic Death Metal

Record Label(s): Independent

The one man project of mastermind musician Derek Corzine, death metal gets a Christian overhaul. Whilst this angelic hymn is usually reserved for churches, the Blood Thirsty rendition is much better! Alongside this Christmas carol, the symphonic death metal offerings Blood Thirsty provides are worth listening to as well.

Bandcamp 

Facebook

Spotlight On - O Come Emmanuel (The One Foretold)

🔊 THIS WEEK'S HEADLINER🔊

THE HELL (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)

Location: Watford

Genre: Hardcore

Record Label(s): Black Mist Records

This one doubles up as a throwback too, but this cover of East 17's Stay Another Day just cracks me up and demonstrates the band's musicianship outside of their bombastic hardcore riffing. As it's a time of year to not take ourselves so seriously, I though this would be the perfect way to cap of Fjordhammer's Festive Friday! 

Bandcamp

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Spotlight On - STAY ANOTHER DAY

🎁 A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎁

That wraps up the Fjordhammer Friday festive special! I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Whilst 2020 has been hell, I remain optimistic that 2021 will be better! Hopefully Santa Claws will gift you CDs, Merch and more from your favourite bands so you can have a very metal Christmas as well. As always, have an awesome weekend with plenty of beer and cheer! 🍻🤘