Season’s Greetings everyone!

To get you further into the festive mood (one day to go!) have a listen to Black Label Society‘s version of the traditional English Christmas carol, “The First Noel.”

It’s not the usual BLS heavy metal fare, it is a beautiful acoustic rendition from their covers album The Song Remains Not The Same. As usual Zakk Wylde‘s guitar playing is excellent.

Last year for Christmas, metal demons GWAR decided to post a video that has since become one of my favorite videos of all time. It is fitting to post it up again this year, as sadly we lost guitarist Cory Smoot during 2011.

Cory Smoot aka Flattus Maximus was found dead in November this year. Smoot’s presence in the band was a significant shift forward for GWAR, with the new Flattus contributing his solid musical technique and thoughtful production values to the development of the band. He will be missed.

So, without further ado, here’s GWAR going caroling for Christmas – posted here both for the festive season, and in memory of Cory Smoot.

Ben H. Winters, author of Android Karenina and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, has once again done what he does best — mash-up monsters with classic literature.

This time around, the holiday favorite A Christmas Carol gets infused with aliens in Scrooge vs Aliens: A Christmas Carol Mashup.

In 1989, author Neil Gaiman wrote a short story called Nicholas Was”¦ for his Christmas card, which contained calligraphy by Gaiman’s frequent collaborator artist Dave McKean.

Now, Vimeo user nomsa has made a pop-up book out of the 100-word story and set it to music on a video, which you can watch here below.

Even though Santa Claus will be very busy delivering presents all night long this Christmas Eve, there’s still time to receive a phone calls from the jolly fellow!

And if you want Santa to give someone in your life a call, you totally can. Head over to the Gmail-sponored website Send a Personalized Phone Call from Santa, fill in a few details, then enter the recipient’s phone number, and Santa will give a call right away.