Pop culture legend William Shatner is officially venturing into heavy metal territory. The iconic actor has just announced a massive, star-studded metal album that will combine crushing guitars and cinematic arrangements with his unmistakable spoken-word delivery.
While this may be his first full dive into heavy metal, Shatner is no stranger to musical experimentation. Throughout his career, he 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. “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.”
Official details regarding the album’s title, final release date, and full tracklist will be revealed in the near future.
