Move over Die Hard—there’s a new holiday debate, and this one cranks the volume to 11. Some fans are arguing that Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” is actually a Christmas song.
The theory, floated by Audio Ink Radio, starts with the obvious: those iconic opening bells. Lars Ulrich’s solemn chimes create a reflective, almost ceremonial mood—one that isn’t far removed from the nostalgia of holiday bells.
Supporters say it’s also about atmosphere. Beneath the song’s crushing guitars is a warm, enveloping sound, and its slow build mirrors the anticipation of Christmas morning. Add in themes of sacrifice, mortality, and shared humanity, and suddenly the argument doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
There’s also something perfectly Metallica about it. Reframing one of their heaviest tracks as holiday music is rebellious, unexpected, and oddly fitting for a band that’s never followed the rules.
Believe it or not, the debate is proof of the song’s staying power more than 40 years after Ride the Lightning. So this holiday season, between “Jingle Bells” and Mariah Carey, maybe toss in some Metallica—if only to spark a lively argument around the tree.