Guitarist Marcus Nand will officially be featured on William Shatner‘s upcoming heavy metal album. The confirmation was solidified after his initial studio work on the project received direct praise from legendary rock guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
Shatner recently recorded a demo for a new track titled “The Grim Reaper,” which he co-wrote with Nand. Seeking input on the track, the actor and musician sent the recording to the former Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist to gauge his thoughts and potentially have him contribute to the song.
Blackmore, who previously collaborated with Shatner on his blues and Christmas albums, declined to record over the existing parts, explicitly praising Nand‘s guitar work. According to reports, Blackmore told Shatner: “The guitar solo on what you sent is very good. I don’t feel I can add anything to change or improve it.”
Nand has built a reputation as a versatile player, incorporating elements of rock, blues, and traditional Spanish flamenco into his style. His resume includes collaborations with David Bowie pianist Mike Garson, the metal group Freak of Nature alongside frontman Mike Tramp, and the rock ensemble Ziroq with bassist Carmine Rojas.
In 2024, Nand released his debut solo album, The Traveler, via Cleopatra Records. The record featured guest appearances by Garson, Tramp, Rojas, and Billy Idol collaborator Steve Stevens.
Throughout his career Shatner has collaborated with a wide array of rock and metal luminaries, including Zakk Wylde, Ritchie Blackmore, Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream, Wayne Kramer of the MC5, and Henry Rollins (known for his work in Black Flag and the Rollins Band).
For this new release, the actor has hand-picked a legion of heavy musicians to bring his ambitious vision to life. Speaking about his deep appreciation for the genre and the musicians involved, he shared:
“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner said at the time. “Each artist brings their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”
The idea for a full metal album was actually ignited by Shatner‘s recent guest spot on the upcoming Black Flame album by Nuclear Messiah. For that project, he recorded a spoken-word introduction alongside former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. That creative process proved to be highly inspiring for him:
“When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” Shatner explained. “It wasn’t just a track — it was a doorway.”
His motivation was pushed even further when Zakk Wylde (the legendary guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne) personally gifted him a guitar.
The upcoming album will feature a mix of original material written by his creative team, as well as ambitious covers of metal classics by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. Promising that the record will arrive soon, he offered this final statement:
“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” Shatner said. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal. I am covering Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden as well as a number of new songs written by my team. The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”
Further announcements regarding the album’s official release date and additional guest musicians are expected in the near future.
