Everybody loves a bit of a Christmas sing-a-long, from the smallest child to the oldest man. Even those acts who would traditionally be rated too "dark" or "alternative" for Christmas have occasionally taken the opportunity to write a Christmas tune, whether that's because they found it funny, ironic or just considered the financial implications is unsure. Not that they should be blamed in the slightest, of course. This countdown is all about celebrating an alternative viewpoint to Christmas and looking at the ways in which we can embrace our heavier musical tendencies and make it through the holiday season. Chris DeBurgh and Johnny Mathis are all well and good, but you've got to make time for your favourite artists too while you're feasting on too much turkey and trying to ignore the inevitable questions from all corners regarding what you're doing with your life. Just like everybody else in music these artists decided - or where perhaps forced by management thirsty for a slice of the festive dollar pile - to have a Christmas single for the sake of it. Sometimes, the results are genius, and you're duly grateful they took time away from their usual recording activities, and sometimes it's a train wreck and you just plain wish they hadn't.