The holidays are coming. And if you’re one of Critical Role‘s loyal fanbase, affectionately known as Critters, then you’re getting ready to celebrate Winter’s Crest. To help bring something special to this festive season, Critical Role is gifting its fans with a whole Winter’s Crest holiday album. Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) contains 11 holiday-themed tracks from Scanlan Shorthalt Music, performed by the cast of Critical Role. Of course, cheery love fills all these songs to the brim—a perfect set of tunes for making any communal gathering brighter. But our personal favorite is the earworm, “Twelve Days of Grogmas,” which stars Travis Willingham as Grog and Ashley Johnson as Pike from Vox Machina. If you think listening to Critical Role‘s carol is a hilariously chaotic experience… Well, just wait until you see the music video for the “Twelve Days of Grogmas.”
And so, as our Winter’s Crest gift to you, it’s our pleasure at Nerdist to share an exclusive first look at the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video—a true piece of Critical Role delight.
Critical Role Presents the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” Music Video
Ah, Winter’s Crest. This joyous holiday is celebrated throughout the corners of Tal’Dorei. The festive occasion commemorates the alliance that defeated the ice elemental Errevon the Rimelord. It’s the perfect time for community, lights, great feasts, and many games. Winter’s Crest should create joy and warmth. It’s the ideal celebration for… nine naked ladies, eight maids to wash you, two GoFiBePos (that’s goat, fish, beef, and pork bowls… also known as meat salad), and a thousand pints of ale. Well, it is if you’re Critical Role‘s Grog, at any rate.
In “Twelve Days of Grogmas,” Critical Role gives us a unique spin on the traditional Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” And honestly, we love a partridge in a pear tree… but Grog’s vision of the holidays is one that we’d love to be a part of. And in “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video, Grog and Pike’s vision of Winter’s Crest comes to full chaotic life, complete with all the hilarious visuals you could ask for. Just listening to this song was super fun, but we’re absolutely obsessed with watching its music video. It is guaranteed to leave you cackling in confused delight… Much as Pike and Grog’s best adventures often do.
Of course, for all you Critters out there, keep a weather eye out for Critical Role Easter eggs in the mix of the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video. And, you won’t want to miss the sneak peek at another holiday hit for Grog buried in this music video… “Dingle Berries” (to the tune of “Jingle Bells.”)… (Oh Dingle Berries, Dingle Berries, hanging on my bum.”) Hey, there’s nothing like the holidays with Grog and Critical Role.
Honestly, we just love to hear our favorite characters come to life in this festive way. Travis Willingham Grog and Ashley Johnson’s Grog and Pikey singing voices just make us smile to hear. And, of course, you can add your voice to the Winter’s Crest stew pot. The handy subtitles at the bottom of the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video will let you sing right along. Being a Critter during the holidays and receiving so many gifts is the absolute best.
More About Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) from Critical Role
To increase our Winter’s Crest delight after the transcendent experience of watching the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video, here are a few more details about Critical Role‘s full-length holiday album Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album). This holiday outing marks Critical Role‘s third album under the Scanlan Shorthalt Music label. It features 11 delightful tracks that honor the Tal’dorei holiday, bringing festive cheer and Critical Role‘s signature storytelling and worldbuilding to your ears just in time for the holidays.
Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) can be streamed digitally and purchased on all major platforms. It is also releasing in standard and deluxe vinyl editions (which will ship in Spring 2025, but you’ll have them for the holiday season next year!) The deluxe vinyl edition of Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) comes signed by the cast of Critical Role and features the following extras: variant cover art, a collectible postcard, a vinyl sticker pack of cast member portraits framed in ornaments, and a pack of festive polaroid-style photos. The standard vinyl costs $49.99, while the deluxe edition costs $249.99. You can stream the album or pre-order your vinyl now at scanlanshorthaltmusic.com
As mentioned, Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) features performances by the Critical Role cast as themselves and as their iconic characters from Vox Machina, Mighty Nein, and Bells Hells. You can check out the full Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) tracklist below to get a sense of what gifts lie in store.
Winter’s Crest (A Holiday Album) Tracklist:
- Winter’s Crest Welcome – Matthew Mercer
- Winter’s Crest Festival Time – Matthew Mercer (as Pumat Sol)
- Silent Mind – Laura Bailey (as Imogen)
- Naughty & Nice – Sam Riegel (as Scanlan)
- Nothin’ Under the Tree – Taliesin Jaffe (as Ashton)
- O Mighty Nein – Liam O’Brien (as Caleb)
- Twelve Days of Grogmas – Travis Willingham (as Grog), Ashley Johnson (as Pike)
- Cold Inside – Marisha Ray (as Laudna), Laura Bailey (as Imogen Temult), Sam Riegel (as Fresh Cut Grass), Travis Willingham (as Chetney), Matthew Mercer (as Pâté)
- Winter Anymore – Ashley Johnson (as Yasha)
- Deck the Bear – Ensemble Cast (Vox Machina)
- It’s Critmas! – Ensemble Cast
Make sure to listen to all the new Critical Role holiday songs and add them to your party playlist this year. Just also make sure to have a plate of GoFiBePos left out with Santa’s Cookies… In case Grog hears you playing his song and comes to have a Critical Role sing along. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be streaming this album on repeat, with breaks to play the “Twelve Days of Grogmas” music video over and over again.