“Bah humbug” – just two little words, but they really encapsulate everything negative about Christmas, don’t they? Well, Misantrof Records, the label set up by Carpathian Forest bassist, Daniel Vrangsinn, are certainly embracing that negative Christmas spirit, and have released an entire album about why Christmas sucks ass. And they’re giving it away for free.

Actually, it’s the second time they’ve done this – that’s why they’ve called it HOLY FUCKING ANTIChristmas Volume II. Just why do they feel the need to do such a thing? Vrangsinn offers up this explanation:

“Regardless of your religious beliefs, Christmas has now become what is probably the most exploitative time of the year, when people are guilted into spending ridiculous amounts of money they can’t afford, on things they don’t need. So we thought we’d kill two birds with one stone by releasing an album that costs you nothing to get hold of, and at the same time takes a dig at the absurdity that has now become Christmas. All the bands volunteered their time to write and record for free, even paying their studio costs, and if that’s not the real spirit of Christmas, then what is? Let’s just call it areality check on Christmas, made for pure enjoyment and cost-free self-indulgence”.

Wow. To download the album for free, and to get a full breakdown of the tracklisting too, click this link and head on over to the Misantrof website. Our personal favourite from the tracks on offer is ‘Christmas Time (The birth of The Retarded Child)’ by Plaag – what’s your’s?