"Metal Kalikimaka Volume I"
Tin Idols
(Tin Idols Productions)

In 2013 producer-musician Gerard K. Gonsalves and Tin Idols Productions reimagined rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" as heavy metal and created "Jesus Christ Supernova." Gonsalves applies a similar formula to an eclectic cross-section of seasonal standards on "Metal Kalikimaka Volume I." The set list stretches from "Angels We Have Heard On High" to "Santa Baby" and "Baby It’s Cold Outside." Gonsalves’ work on drums is the one common denominator — other than that, every song brings together different combinations of musicians and vocalists.

Bryan Molina is the voice on a slamming take on "We Three Kings," Sandy Essman is featured on an elaborate arrangement of "O Come O Come Emmanuel," Angelo Jensen takes "The Christmas Song" to places Nat King Cole almost certainly never imagined, and Marti "The Marti" Kerton of Hat Makes The Man fame guests on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

"Mary Did You Know," "Feliz Navidad" and an imaginative reworking of "Little Drummer Boy" with a hard-rockin’ drum solo, are among the other songs that get the full-metal treatment.

For more information go to www.reverbnation.com/metalkalikimaka.

"Endless Christmas"
Ginai
(Black Hawaiian Music)

Mono-monickered jazz vocalist Ginai welcomes an all-star cast as guests on her beautifully crafted celebration of the Christmas season. Willie K joins her in a swinging rendition of "Cool Yule." Shari Lynn brings freshness and levity to "Jingle Bells." The dynamic instrumental duo of Jim Howard (piano) and Bruce Yamada (acoustic bass) are all the backing Ginai needs on a sophisticated cocktail lounge treatment of "Christmas Time Is Here."

Ginai and the Alika Lyman Group successfully blend several genres in their smooth and seductive rendition of "Little Drummer Boy."

The title song, an original, is presented twice. First with Gypsy 808 and vocalist Patrick Von Wiegandt as old-style gypsy jazz, the second as soulful girl group material with Dita Holifield, Rea Fox and Sunway. Both versions share the dream that life could be an endless Christmas — a time of love, family, forgiveness and an expression of the light of Christ.

Ginai delves into comedy with "Who Threw Santa Under the Bus" but she closes the album on a very personal note with another original, "If We Have Joy," which she sings with her son, Aiden.

For more information go to www.ginai.com.

"Our Finest Gifts"
Various artists
(AngelHeart)

Longtime musical partners Roslyn Catracchia and David Kauahikaua are showcasing five male vocalists in this Christmas compilation. George Benavente, Mahi‘ai Kekumu, Cory Oliveros, Elika Santos and Ryan Souza perform as soloists for the most part. Kauahikaua, an electronic music wizard for several decades, provides almost all the instrumental tracks. A majority of these Christmas songs are about the birth of Jesus but there are also several secular holiday standards in the mix.

"Sweet Little Jesus Boy," sung by Oliveros, stands out as a moving testament of Christian faith written in the 1930s and not often heard here. Souza and Kekumu have beautiful solo showcase numbers in "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "Po La‘i E," respectively.

Benavente, Kekumu and Souza share the mic on a beautiful arrangement of "O Holy Night," and everyone contributes to a refreshing take on "Little Drummer Boy."

And, although the vocalists are the stars, Kauahikaua’s talents as arranger and musician are important parts of this album.

For more information, visit angelheartrecords.com.