William Shatner is stepping into heavy metal, yes, properly.
The 94 year old cultural icon has announced a new metal album packed with elite players and covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, alongside original material, it marks his boldest dive yet into amplified territory, blending massive guitars with the unmistakable spoken word intensity that’s defined his left field music career (per Metal Injection).
Shatner is no stranger to rock circles, over the years he’s teamed with Zakk Wylde, Ritchie Blackmore, Henry Rollins, Wayne Kramer, and Edgar Froese, but this time he’s framing the project as something bigger.
“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner said.
“Each artist brings their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”
The spark reportedly came during his recent collaboration with Nuclear Messiah on their forthcoming album Black Flame, where Shatner delivered a voiced intro alongside former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland.
“When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” Shatner explained. “It wasn’t just a track — it was a doorway.”
Zakk Wylde’s deeply motivating gift
Adding fuel to the fire, Zakk Wylde gifted Shatner a guitar, a moment he describes as deeply motivating, from there the idea escalated into a full record. Details do remain scarce, but the promise of Sabbath doom, Priest steel, and Maiden gallop filtered through Shatner’s theatrical lens is hard not to get excited about or ignore.
“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” he said. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal… The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”
Either way, metal just got a little more interstellar.
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