The holidays are upon us again, and we know what that entails—an abundance of food and drinks that, if we’re not careful, we’ll carry as extra weight well into the coming new year.

But let’s be honest, unless your livelihood is dependent on looking and weighing a certain way, you’d have abandoned holding back and have given in to the inevitable wave of Christmas parties and all the good food and beverages that go with it as early as the first week of December.

Which is to say, excess is relative. It can’t be bad to have a good thing when the season warrants it.

Just like the “Merry Axemass – A Guitar Christmas,” which compiles some of the biggest guitarists (or ‘axemen’) playing carols in instrumental style where holding back is not an option.

Released in 1997, it ran a gamut of styles, starting with the straight-on blues rock edge that a then-young guitar slinger named Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought to “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” If you think carols and the blues don’t mix, think again, as Kenny colors the traditional red and green of Christmas with a touch of blue or blues, that is.

Neal Schon, ace guitarist of Journey, gets all ambient and somewhat moody on “O Come Emmanuel” but is nevertheless sharp and precise with his deluge of notes. While flamenco and fingerstyle master Al Dimeola is very much a vibe with his nylon acoustic guitar on “Carol Of The Bells.” Check out those tasty, scalar speed runs!

Like a painter, Eric Johnson—one of my all-time Top 5 guitarists—can conjure up beautiful soundscapes using inverted chord voicings on “The First Noel.” As a true giant in instrumental guitar, Johnson still manages to sound like himself while playing a classic carol.    

Brian Setzer nods and shakes as he renders “Jingle Bells” with a 1940s big band vibe and an electrified classic 50’s twang on his semi-hollow Gretsch guitar. And we’re not even halfway through this collection as Joe Perry of Aerosmith, with a slide, makes his electric guitar sing like a country singer on “Blue Christmas.”  

Steve Vai almost makes the electric guitar talk on “Christmas Time Is Here.” The ‘freakishly good’ guitar genius is playing over a jazzy rhythm arrangement as he lets it rip on his axe on top, and the result is beautiful.

And speaking of beautiful guitar playing, none can compare to the late great Jeff Beck as he coaxes “Amazing Grace” out of his guitar. And he stuns with his subtlety of touch and just makes one miss this one-of-a-kind sublime guitarist all the more.

Gen-X guitarists would know of Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert, who dishes out an original Yule-inspired rock instrumental in “Mount Fuji Christmas.” He might as well have called this Gojira (Godzilla) Christmas, what with his giant tone and playing. Think Top Gun theme for Christmas; you already know how this one sounds without hearing it.

Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora gets fine and fancy on “O Holy Night” as instrumental guitar legend Joe “Satch” Satriani rocks out on a well-thought-out “Silent Night” jam.

Another favorite guitarist is Zakk Wyle, who displays his mastery on a fine acoustic re-arrangement of “White Christmas” as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (with Al Pitrelli) with Metallica for “O Come, All Ye Faithful” where every shredded note from a guitar is in its proper place.

Excess is relative. Have a Merry Christmas!