

“Jingle bells, burn in hell, rotting in decay/Oh what fun it is to die in a one-horse open sleigh.” That’s just one of the many lyrical adjustments ICE NINE KILLS have made on A Very Vicious Christmas. Stuffing eight Yuletide favorites into just under 12 minutes, the horror-themed metalcore band unleashes unabashedly heavy takes on holiday classics. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” with d-beats and disembowelment? Check. “Joy to the World” with death metal growls, high-pitched shrieking, and blast beats? Also check. Apparently, the band couldn’t decide between an over-the-top metal version or an orchestral version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” so they included both.