William Shatner Is Dropping a Metal Album in 2026 — And Rock Fans Didn’t See This Coming

At 94 years old, William Shatner is once again challenging expectations. The veteran film and television icon has announced an ambitious new heavy metal album, bringing together an unlikely yet formidable roster of collaborators and classic metal covers.

The as-yet-untitled record will feature contributions from Zakk Wylde and Henry Rollins, along with reinterpretations of songs by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. The project was officially announced on Thursday, February 19, via a statement from Shatner’s team, with a release expected later this year.

A Heavy Metal Gathering of Forces

Marketing materials describe the album as “a heavy metal extravaganza powered by a veritable army of metal stars – each one personally selected and hand-picked by Shatner.” According to the actor, the genre’s intensity and creative honesty made it the ideal vehicle for his latest artistic leap.

“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” he said. “This album is a gathering of forces – each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty…”

Expanding on the project’s intent, he added:

“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction. 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.”

Beyond Wylde and Rollins, the album will also feature appearances from Ritchie Blackmore, Edgar Froese, and Wayne Kramer.

Not Shatner’s First Musical Frontier

While a heavy metal album from a nonagenarian may raise eyebrows, it fits comfortably within Shatner’s long history of genre-defying musical experiments. Over the decades, he has released numerous spoken-word and crossover albums, including his famously unconventional take on Elton John’s “Rocket Man.”

His creative relationship with Wylde is well established. The pair previously collaborated on the 2011 spoken-word rock album Seeking Major Tom, which also featured musicians such as Michael Schenker, Ian Paice, and Carmine Appice. The following year, Shatner appeared alongside Corey Taylor and Scott Ian during a televised roast honoring Wylde.

In 2013, he ventured into progressive rock with Ponder the Mystery, collaborating with Steve Vai and members of Yes, Hawkwind, and The Doors. Producer and former Yes guitarist Billy Sherwood later praised his tireless creative drive, noting that despite having every reason to retire, he continues to pursue new artistic challenges.

A Career Still Moving Forward

Shatner’s most recent release was 2024’s Where Will The Animals Sleep? Songs For Kids & Other Living Things, underscoring the breadth of his artistic interests even late in his career. Although he was hospitalized in September following an undisclosed medical emergency, there has been little evidence that the experience slowed him down. By Thanksgiving, he appeared in good spirits, posting a photo to Instagram and reflecting on the year.

He wrote in the caption that he was “especially thankful this year as we are blessed beyond measure with heath, family and a beautiful gathering.” The message carried a reflective tone, offering a rare pause in a career defined by constant reinvention. As he enters his tenth decade in the public eye, the forthcoming heavy metal album reads less like a novelty and more like a continuation of a lifelong refusal to settle into expectation—another chapter in an artistic journey driven by curiosity, risk, and a willingness to explore uncharted ground rather than rest on legacy alone.