William Shatner Announces Heavy Metal Album

William Shatner, the 94-year-old actor best known for portraying Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise and for becoming the oldest person to travel to space, announced on Thursday a forthcoming heavy metal album featuring collaborations with 35 artists from the genre. The project, set for release later this year, includes covers of songs by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, alongside original compositions written by Shatner's team.

The album emerged from Shatner's recent contribution to the Nuclear Messiah concept album Black Flame, where he provided a spoken-word introduction alongside former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. That experience, Shatner said, ignited the full-scale endeavor. "When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked," he explained in a statement. "It wasn't just a track; it was a doorway. It made me want to go all the way in, bring in the best metal players I could find, and create something fearless."

Shatner personally selected the collaborators, drawing from metal's storied roster to blend his signature spoken-word style with heavy guitar riffs, dramatic arrangements, and narrative performances. Participants include Zakk Wylde, the...