Legendary actor and cultural icon William Shatner<\/strong> is diving headfirst into heavy metal with a new, star-powered album that promises massive guitars, cinematic scope, and his signature spoken-word intensity. So all the weirdness you’d expect combined with what sounds like a good chunk of sincerity.<\/p>\n Long known for blurring the lines between storytelling and music, Shatner<\/strong> has previously collaborated with boundary-pushing artists such as Zakk Wylde<\/strong>, Ritchie Blackmore<\/strong>, Edgar Froese<\/strong> of Tangerine Dream<\/strong>, Wayne Kramer<\/strong> of MC5<\/strong>, and Henry Rollins<\/strong> of Black Flag<\/strong> and Rollins Band<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This time, however, Shatner<\/strong> is assembling what he calls a “gathering of forces” \u2014 an army of metal musicians personally selected to help realize his most ambitious heavy project yet. “Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner<\/strong> said. “Each artist brings their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”<\/p>\n The project was sparked by Shatner<\/strong>‘s recent involvement with Nuclear Messiah<\/strong> on their upcoming album Black Flame<\/em>, where he voiced an intro piece created alongside Chris Poland<\/strong>, the former Megadeth<\/strong> guitarist.<\/p>\n “When Nuclear Messiah<\/strong> came to life, something clicked,” Shatner<\/strong> explained. “It wasn’t just a track \u2014 it was a doorway.”<\/p>\n Further fueling the momentum, Wylde<\/strong> \u2014 best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne<\/strong> \u2014 personally gifted Shatner<\/strong> a guitar, a gesture the actor describes as deeply motivating.<\/p>\n The forthcoming album will feature covers of Black Sabbath<\/strong>, Judas Priest<\/strong>, and Iron Maiden<\/strong>, alongside new original material written with his team. “I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” Shatner<\/strong> said. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal\u2026 The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”<\/p>\n Additional details \u2014 including the album’s title, full guest roster, track list, and release date \u2014 are expected to be announced soon.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.<\/p>\n