Every December, the music industry turns into Two Camps: The timeless classics and the overly polished ballads but this year, we’ve got something that feels like a genuine breath of Crisp, North Pole Air. The latest release from Reindeer Riot cuts through the seasonal noise by leaning unapologetically into Joy, Spectacle, and High-energy holiday fun while laying the foundation of what feels like a long running Christmas universe in the making.
The Animated power trio, Reindeer Riot dropped this definitive anthem “It’s Christmas Time (Hear The Bells)” and it’s a perfect vibe for the holiday mood.
Every great band has an origin story, but Reindeer Riot’s is refreshingly a honest one. Last year, 2024, songwriter and producer Michael Clorley-Jones released “Baby it’s Christmas When You’re Here”. He declared the track “non-canon” citing his own instrumental limitations at that time. At that time, it was a bold move but hearing the new single, it was clearly the right move.
The band was built around the idea of annual festive returns with a new Christmas single promised each year and a growing cast of Characters to match. A percentage of the band’s earning goes towards good causes, aligning the project with the true spirit of the season rather than exploiting it. By stepping up the production and embracing the animated band concept, he has transformed a solo project into a living, breathing holiday universe.
A key strength of Reindeer Riot is how seamlessly the characters are woven into the music. Venn, the drummer feels like the engine of the track, Bitz on the bass brings the groove and Rudi handles vocals and the guitars delivering the performance with wide eyed sincerity as if every line really is unfolding inside a Christmas romance movie.
It’s Christmas Time (Hear The Bells) is a Pop Rock burst that captures the beautiful reality of the season. Beyond it’s catchy hook, it explores the emotional weight of the holidays and the need to return to our roots. It’s a track that somehow balances the Hussle and Bustle of modern life with the spiritual stillness of a winter night.
Lyrically, it paints a vivid picture of this journey home: “This Christmas, i’m making my way home to be wrapped in family/All our trouble gone/ It doesn’t feel like Christmas without the snowfall but the dancing street lights bring it to a song”
There’s something relatable about that sentiment. Even if the weather does not play along, the bubbling street and the excitement of community provide the magic. The song broadens out to celebrate the innocence of the season, noting children passing hands and the stare in their eyes capturing that sense of wonder. The song captures a collective living side of humanity that emerges when the bells start ringing.
The track understands that Christmas works better when it becomes a shared moment; Family gatherings, late night laughter and that familiar sense of anticipation rather than overcomplicating the message. This is a festive sound designed to lift spirits, whether blasting through speakers at a party or playing quietly in the background as the tree lights glow.
Visually, It’s Christmas Time is supported by colorful animation that mirrors the song’s energy perfectly. The animated video and accompanying assets from Character introduction to social ready clips elevate the release beyond a single track into a fully realized seasonal experience.
Reindeer Riot is committed to releasing a new single every year, building a recurring world we can visit every December. If It’s Christmas Time is any indication, this is a tradition i’ll be following closely. It’s Fresh, fun and it is exactly the kind of energy we need to close out the year.
LISTEN TO IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME:
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