Listen to Judas Priest’s Rob Halford give Christmas carols a metal makeover

Rob Halford
Rob Halford

Rob Halford has released a stream of his cover version of the 1739 Christmas carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

It’s the latest material taken from the Judas Priest frontman’s upcoming festive record Celestial, which is due to arrive on October 18 through Legacy Recordings. 

The album will be Halford’s second Yuletide release and follows Halford III: Winter Songs, which launched in 2009. Like the previously release, the new album will feature a collection festive favourites, including Away In A MangerThe First NoelO Little Town Of Bethlehem and Good King Wenceslas

Along with the traditional Christmas tunes, Celestial will also include four original songs which were recorded for the project: CelestialMorning StarProtected By The Light and Donner And Blitzen, which The Metal God shared in September.

Halford is also currently writing his memoir and checked in last week to report that the book, which he says will “shock you”, will launch towards the end of 2020.

Next year will mark Judas Priest’s 50th anniversary, with the band revealing recently that they would play a special set to mark the milestone at Wacken Open Air which will take place between July 30 - August 1.

The band will also be special guests of Ozzy Osbourne on the rescheduled UK and European leg of his No More Tour 2 shows in early 2020.

Rob Halford: Celestial
1. Celestial
2. Donner and Blitzen
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Away In A Manger
5. Morning Star
6. Deck The Halls
7. Joy To The World
8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. The First Noel
11. Good King Wenceslas
12. Protected By The Light

Rob Halford: Celestial

Rob Halford: Celestial
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford will release a new collection of festive favourites with a metal makeover in October. Celestial also features four brand new tracks.

Scott Munro
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Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.