William Shatner, the 94-year-old Star Trek icon, has revealed plans for a heavy metal album featuring covers of songs by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, along with original tracks. The project involves 35 handpicked musicians and is set for release later this year through Cleopatra Records. Shatner described the album as a bold exploration inspired by his recent collaboration on the Nuclear Messiah project.
William Shatner, known for portraying Captain Kirk in Star Trek since 1966, announced his venture into heavy metal music on February 19, 2026, via a post on X. In the post, he wrote, “I have explored space. I have explored time. Now… I explore distortion. Yes. You read that correctly. I am releasing a HEAVY METAL album.” The untitled album will include covers of tracks by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, as well as new songs created by his team. It features contributions from 35 metal musicians, described in a press release as delivering “equal parts thunder, theater, and fearless experimentation.”
Shatner, who turns 95 in March, explained that the idea emerged from his spoken-word introduction to a song on Black Flame, the upcoming album by the metal supergroup Nuclear Messiah, overseen by Megadeth founding guitarist Chris Poland. The Nuclear Messiah project includes musicians such as Marty Friedman, Dave Ellefson, Sebastian Bach, and Derek Sherinian, with its release scheduled for April 24, 2026. “When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked,” Shatner said. “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.”
The album is produced by Cleopatra Records, which stated that it “plays like a high-voltage film: sharp turns, dark humor, raw emotion, and moments of unexpected beauty,” built around massive guitars and Shatner’s signature vocal style. Shatner reflected, “At 94, one does not slow down. One turns the volume up. So prepare yourselves. We are about to boldly headbang where no one has headbanged before.” Additional details, including the title, track list, and full list of collaborators, will be announced soon. A lead single is also planned.
Shatner’s musical career dates back to his 1968 debut album The Transformed Man, with subsequent releases covering genres from pop and rock to Christmas songs and a 2024 children’s album. Recently, Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde gifted him a guitar, which Shatner called an unexpected and motivating gesture.