Stephen Colbert, host of the Colbert Report and who FishbowlNY has always pegged as a closet death-metal fan, has accepted an offer from indie rock band the Decemberists — hey, why not, December's a slow month for fake news — to an on-air guitar-solo contest. Colbert had accused the band of stealing his concept for an MTVu contest and, well, again, it's December:

"Put down the pen, Colbert, and pick up the axe! Let's see what kind of a man you really are," said the band in a statement, adding "Let's SHRED!"

Decemberists' Chris Funk will face off with Colbert "in a blood-frenzy of guitar mayhem and pyrotechnics" on December 20.

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