Album Review: Christmas – Hot Nights In Saint Vandal

Unlike many bands that have any kind of longevity, German punks Christmas have never once relented in their ten year existence, they have notched up an impressive thirteen releases and 500 gigs across thirteen countries, although this has not been without cost as they have left fourteen burnt out band members strewn in their wake. Now they are set to release their latest full length “Hot Nights In Saint Vandal” on the 28th February on vinyl, CD and digital formats via Kidnap Music in their homeland, TNSrecords in the UK and via Christmas‘s Bandcamp and digital service providers for pretty much everywhere else. From the first bars of the opening track ‘Turn Me Lewd‘ it’s clear that Christmas can be still be something special, this is high octane punk rock that draws from the the likes of Dwarves and Rancid but has a distinctly European spin, and, like the majority of German punk bands I’ve encountered, there is a recurring beer flavoured theme that runs throughout the album.

Our last review of a release from Christmas, their split single with Skinny Millionaires, concluded that ‘Christmas have way better stuff than this’, “Hot Nights In Saint Vandal” is proof that we were right on the money. If you like your punk rock to be a short sharp shock then this will be an album to accompany your next session, “Hot Nights In Saint Vandal” delivers it’s eleven tracks in around 22 minutes, with only four songs breaking the two minute minute barrier. With their latest full length Christmas have delivered a full length of beer fuelled punk rock that doesn’t pull it’s punches, this is a short fast blast of punk rock that just screams fuck you and then gets a round in. “Hot Nights In Saint Vandal” can be pre-ordered on vinyl and CD via Kidnap Music (DE), TNSrecords (UK) and Bandcamp (everywhere else).

Christmas can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify