The Hobbit's Christopher Lee Joins Christmas Number 1 Race with Heavy Metal Song

Film legend Christopher Lee is gunning for the Christmas number 1 with his new heavy metal song, Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing.

The 92-year-old actor, best known for playing Saruman the White in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, shows off his impressive baritone in the festive anthem based on the Christmas carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Aside from Lee's impressive vocals, Hedras Ramos plays guitar, Brook Hansen from Prog Rock Orchestra provides the instrumental mix and Ziv is the backup singer.

Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing, which is available on iTunes, also features his take on the Christmas classics The Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night and Jingle Bells.

It the British star's third heavy metal offering following his 2012 A Heavy Metal Christmas and 2013 A Heavy Metal Christmas Too.

Lee, who is the world's oldest man known to release a heavy metal track, says he hopes to make an impact through his music.

"I do not know how long I am going to be around, so every day is a celebration and I want to share it with my fans," Lee told Time magazine.

"It's light-hearted, joyful and fun. It's a band singing on how metal should be played, the effect it has on the band and its listeners,"

The movie veteran, whose acting credits also include Dracula, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and the original Moulin Rouge movie, has released four albums.

He ventured fully into the heavy metal genre in 2013 with his last album Charlemagne: The Omens of Death.