At 95 years old, legendary actor William Shatner — Captain Kirk to generations of Star Trek fans — is pressing ahead with what may be 2026's most unlikely metal project: a full-length heavy metal album featuring 35 hand-picked collaborators from across the genre.
The latest confirmed addition is Dave Lombardo, the legendary drummer whose thunderous work with SLAYER helped define thrash metal. He joins previously announced collaborator Rob Halford, the Metal God of JUDAS PRIEST. Lombardo called his involvement "a true privilege to contribute drums to William Shatner's ambitious heavy metal project."
Shatner described his vision in characteristic fashion: "Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud. This album is a gathering of forces." The record will feature covers of BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, and IRON MAIDEN alongside original compositions crafted specifically for the project.
Production duties fall to Adam Hamilton and Brian Perera of Cleopatra Records, with additional creative input from Jürgen Engler of German industrial metal act DIE KRUPPS. The full roster of 35 collaborators has yet to be publicly revealed, with further announcements anticipated.
No title, tracklist, or release date has been confirmed. But with the Metal God, a SLAYER legend, and a 95-year-old actor whose theatrical energy could fill any arena at the helm, one thing is certain: this album will not be forgettable.