Sunday brought Trans-Siberian Orchestra's annual holiday-season visitation to Raleigh -- for not just one show, but two. And it was pretty much exactly the ubur-garish spectacle we've come to expect. Click on through for the review.

Neither hurricanes nor scorching heat shall stay the Trans-Siberian Orchestra from announcing its appointed rounds. Yes, dates are out for this year's model of the annual holiday extravaganza, which is again coming to the Triangle. TSO will play Raleigh's RBC Center on Dec. 5, according to the band's tour schedule, which lists Oct. 1 as the on-sale date for tickets.

It might be the dog days of August, but Christmas is coming -- for real. And how do we know this? Because tour dates are out for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the operatic heavy-metal Christmas extravaganza, and Raleigh is on the itinerary once again. This year's TSO visitation will happen on Dec. 2 at the RBC Center; two shows, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Ticket on-sale details to come.

With the Raleigh Christmas Parade and Trans-Siberian Orchestra's annual Triangle visitation both happening on Saturday, it's time to face the music: Premature though it is, the holiday season is well and truly upon us. But Thanksgiving is still six days off! So let's not let go of our grumptitude just yet. Sing it, Brother Tom.

You can start the countdown to the holidays right now, because tour dates for Trans-Siberian Orchestra are out. And the Triangle must be a particularly strong market for orchestrated heavy-metal Christmas music -- not only are we on the itinerary once again, but this year we get two shows. TSO is scheduled to play two shows (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) at Raleigh's RBC Center on Saturday, Nov. 22. Check here for details on the fan-club pre-sale.