William Shatner is stepping into heavy metal.
The 94 year old actor and recording artist has announced a forthcoming metal album featuring covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, alongside newly written original material. The project is slated for release later in 2026, with additional details including the album title, full guest list, and tracklist expected in the coming months.
In a statement, Shatner described the album as a deliberate creative pivot rather than a novelty exercise.
“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 album will feature contributions from several established rock and metal figures. Confirmed collaborators include guitarist Zakk Wylde, known for his long tenure with Ozzy Osbourne and leadership of Black Label Society; Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Rainbow; Henry Rollins of Black Flag and Rollins Band; the late Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream; and Wayne Kramer of MC5.
Shatner has previously worked with many of these artists. His 2011 album Seeking Major Tom included a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” featuring Zakk Wylde. In 2013, he released the prog rock album Ponder the Mystery, produced by Billy Sherwood of Yes and featuring multiple guest musicians from the progressive and hard rock worlds.
Shatner has cited his recent involvement with the band Nuclear Messiah as the catalyst for the new album. He contributed a spoken intro piece to their upcoming record Black Flame, collaborating with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. According to Shatner, the experience opened the door to a more expansive heavy project.
“When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” he said. “It wasn’t just a track. It was a doorway.”
He also noted that Zakk Wylde recently gifted him a guitar, which he described as a motivating gesture during the early stages of the project.
Though a heavy metal album may seem unexpected, Shatner’s discography has long blended theatrical spoken word with rock instrumentation. His 1968 debut The Transformed Man established his signature dramatic style, pairing Shakespeare with contemporary pop songs. In the decades since, he has collaborated with artists across rock, electronic, and progressive music.
This forthcoming metal release continues that pattern of unlikely but persistent experimentation. By combining canonical metal covers with original material and a lineup of seasoned players, Shatner appears to be framing the album less as parody and more as a sincere engagement with the genre’s scale and intensity.
The album’s official release date and lead single have not yet been announced.
