Written By Caine Blackthorn
Avatar have a present for the naughty list
Swedish metal provocateurs Avatar have released “Naughty List,” a Christmas single featuring a guest guitar solo from Zakk Wylde. The collaboration follows another notable guest appearance in the band’s catalogue, their “Violence No Matter What” duet with Lzzy Hale. Yes, it’s a holiday track. No, it is unlikely to make your local supermarket’s carefully sanitized seasonal playlist. An official music video arrived alongside the song.
Not naughty, just different
The title points toward more than a seasonal joke. Vocalist Johannes Eckerström explains that the people branded naughty may simply be the ones who don’t fit society’s preferred mold. The song’s premise is forgiveness and acceptance rather than punishment for being different. It’s an unexpectedly generous sentiment delivered with Avatar’s unmistakable theatrical excess.
The Zakk Wylde connection
Guitarist Tim Öhrström approached Wylde about contributing while their respective acts were supporting Metallica last summer. Wylde’s guest solo supplies another prominent name to a track already built to command attention. His decades of work with Ozzy Osbourne are explored in Metal Lair’s look at Ozzy’s guitarists. Avatar’s latest album, Don’t Go in the Forest, recently marked its first anniversary, and the group will continue touring in Europe and Latin America before returning to support Metallica on the band’s 2027 North American tour.
A seasonal addition with some teeth
Rather than dressing an old carol in distorted guitars, Avatar have made a song that uses Christmas imagery to defend outsiders. The band’s visual style, the video and Wylde’s cameo should make “Naughty List” one of the season’s more entertaining heavy-music releases. Watch the official video through Avatar’s channels.
Sources: Listen and read the release details; Further reporting.
About The Author
Caine Blackthorn writes music news, trending topics, commentary, and feature pieces for Metal Lair with a focus on the shifting culture surrounding rock and heavy metal. From rising ticket prices and touring collapse to legacy artists, industry absurdity, and the changing soul of live music, his work blends sharp observation with the grit, humor, and frustration of the scene itself. Whether covering modern chaos or metal history, Caine approaches heavy music as something lived through, not simply reported on.
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