Shatner Announces All-Star Metal Album
William Shatner revealed a new heavy metal album featuring 35 hand-picked metal icons including Zakk Wylde, Ritchie Blackmore, and Henry Rollins. The project will cover classic bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, blending Shatner's unique style with metal's elite. The album promises to be a unique crossover between pop culture and classic metal.
- This is not Shatner's first foray into rock-oriented music; his 2011 album, *Seeking Major Tom*, featured covers of rock anthems and included a version of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" with Zakk Wylde. His 2013 album, *Ponder the Mystery*, was a progressive rock concept album created with Billy Sherwood of Yes. - The inspiration for a full metal album came after Shatner provided a spoken-word introduction for the upcoming album *Black Flame* by the band Nuclear Messiah, a project featuring ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. - In addition to the artists mentioned in the summary, the album will also feature contributions from the late Wayne Kramer of MC5 and Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream. - The project will be released on Cleopatra Records, the same label that has released several of his previous albums, including his blues and progressive rock outings. - In addition to covering classic metal bands, the album is slated to include a number of original songs written by Shatner's team. - This album continues Shatner's long history of musical releases, which began in 1968 with the spoken-word album *The Transformed Man*. That album's dramatic interpretation of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" established his unique vocal style. - At 94 years old, Shatner has stated his intention is not to slow down but to "turn the volume up," and that he chose to explore heavy metal because the genre "demands honesty."
