At 95, William Shatner isn’t slowing down, he’s diving headfirst into heavy metal, and somehow, it actually makes sense.
The Star Trek icon has recruited Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford for a reimagined version of ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’’, it’s a pairing that reads like a fever dream but lands with genuine weight. Shatner’s spoken word delivery collides with Halford’s unmistakable scream, twisting a metal staple into something stranger and, potentially, sharper (per Blabbermouth).
“I’ve always been drawn to the energy and storytelling of heavy metal,” said Shatner. “Working with Rob on this track brings that intensity to life in a way that feels both timeless and entirely new.”
Halford leans into it all all, adding: “One life I’m gonna live it up!’ William Shatner is boldly doing that more than ever, and I am honored to reinforce this message with him — ‘taking flight I said I’ll never get enough!’“
A heavy metal pivot that isn’t entirely out of nowhere
Shatner’s upcoming album, still in production, marks his most committed step into heavy music yet, this isn’t a novelty run. He’s been circling this space for years, dropping genre bending records and teaming up with unexpected names along the way.
Cleopatra Records boss Brian Perera seems all in on the direction: “I’m honored to be a part of another chapter in William Shatner’s musical journey, and celebrating as he goes louder, harder and heavier than ever.”
The Halford collaboration isn’t the only heavy move either, Shatner recently linked up with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland on ‘Prophet Of Fall-Out’, part of Poland’s Nuclear Messiah project, due ahead of the ‘Black Flame’ album in April.
The bigger picture
There’s a temptation to treat this as a gimmick, a 95 year old actor covering Judas Priest shouldn’t work, but Shatner’s long history with spoken word records and left field collaborations suggests otherwise.
He’s not trying to be metal in the traditional sense, he’s bending it around his own voice, his own rhythm, and whatever strange energy he’s still chasing after seven decades in the spotlight.
More details on the album are expected soon, including additional collaborators.
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