Billed as “a Straight Edge family band doing Punk Rock & Hardcore covers of Christmas songs,” XMAS emerged onto the scene with little to no prior warning on December 1, 2022. So, at the time, XMASX dropped a cover of festive favorite “Jingle Bells” only accredited to “members of Don’t Sleep, Calling Hours, and their kids!” For obvious reasons, we would rather not mention the names and/or ages of the kids involved here, but we can indeed confirm that the adult members of XMASX are Anthony “Tony” (T.J.) Bavaria & Thomas “Tom” (Rory) Rory McGarth from Don’t Sleep/Calling Hours. So, we now know with 100% certainty that XMASX is, in fact, Tony Bavaria & Tom McGarth and their kids! Earlier this morning, Bavaria shared this statement on Facebook: “the kids and I recorded a new Punk holiday cover song this year with our band, XMASX! (Holiday songs with kids screaming are the new “it” thing according to multiple Internet sources.) The kids and I would appreciate any and all shares, listens, Likes, and Follows! Thanks to Thomas Rory McGrath for the guitar solo, Logan Summey for the mixing and help with the drums, and Simon Tripcony for the art!! Link below to listen on your platform of choice.” So, they’re back this year with a Punked up Straight Edge family band-style cover of “It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.” Oddly enough, the original version of the song was released 60 years ago and two months to the day back in October of 1963! “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” was originally penned by Edward Pola & George Wyle and initially released by Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, fittingly titled The Andy Williams Christmas Album.

Over the past 60 years, versions and covers have been made and released on an almost yearly basis by the likes of everyone from Johnny Mathis to Garth Brooks and Harry Connick, Jr. to Stevie Mackey, Jennifer Lopez & THE ELEVEN. However, our personal favorite version—titled “The Most Wonderful Time of The Year”—was recorded by Post-hardcore band InMemory (active from 2002-07) as part of Immortal Records’ iconic 2003 Christmas compilation, A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas. It’s also worth noting that XMASX commissioned popular Punk/Hardcore flyer re-creation afficionado and graphic designer Simon Tripcony (@onetricpony) to design the single cover artwork for “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year,” in which he pays homage to Judge’s 1989 Revelation Records full-length Bringin' It Down. In addition to Bavaria & McGarth and their offspring, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” additionally features contributions from Rock Mill Industries’ own Logan Summey, who in addition to mixing the track itself, provided drum programming, as well. So, now we have exactly TWO Straight Edge family band-style Punk Rock/Hardcore Christmas standard covers from XMASX and it looks like we’ll have to wait until after Thanksgiving 2024 to see what Tony Bavaria, Tom McGarth, and their gang of pint-sized bandmates have in store for us next holiday season! Until then, you can enjoy XMASX’s “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” and “Jingle Bells” on your streaming service of choice through Ship Out Recordings. XHappyHolidaysX and stay tuned for our next transmission here at The Witzard!