Nothing says Christmas like heavy metal. Forget mistletoe and egg nog. Forget Saint Nick and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. As Baby Jesus’ birthday looms ever closer, it’s time to think about drop tuned guitars and testosterone.



On Thursday, Dec. 20, Cheers West in University Place will play host to the “Heavy Metal Christmas Party,” featuring I Dekay, All the Hellbound, Totalisti, I Borjan and HMP. The cover is five bucks, and you can rest assured it’ll be the most interesting thing happening in UP on a Thursday.



For as long as I can remember, which given my many memory depleting recreational addictions isn’t a particularly powerful statement, Totalisti has been one of the most no frills, true blue, straight ahead metal bands Tacoma has to offer. If you’re a fan of new school metal and classic head banging material, Totalisti is right down your alley. Chances are you already know.



I Dekay, on the other hand, haven’t been playing Tacoma for the last five years. In fact, the band isn’t even from Washington, they’re from South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Thursday’s stop at Cheer’s West will be part of a DIY tour taking I Dekay up and down the West Coast. If they’ve planned it correctly, and there are more metal loving towns like Tacoma on the tour itinerary, it should be a successful jaunt. I Dekay is Tacoma’s kind of band, and the Tacoma I speak of drives an IROC-Z, pays for SR 22 insurance, and has custody of their kids every other weekend.



 The Heavy Metal Christmas Party at Cheers West — this show is so Tacoma it hurts.



[Cheers West, Thursday, Dec. 20, 9 p.m., $6, 7102 27th St. W., University Place, 253.565.6665]