February 23, 2026
Boldly shred where no Kirk has shred before
Shatner is making an album with 35 metal icons
Fans cheer, skeptics cringe as 94-year-old Captain Kirk goes full metal with 35 legends
TLDR: At 94, William Shatner is assembling a 35-artist metal album, promising big riffs, classic covers, and no “novelty” gimmicks. The comments split between hype and eye-rolls, with memes, praise for his past Common People turn, and debate over why this is front-page news.
William Shatner just beamed into heavy metal, teasing an all‑star album with a reported 35 “icons,” and the comments erupted. The hype squad is loud: one fan cheered, “Shatner … knows … how to … have fun … in his 90s!” while others posted deep cuts like his unexpectedly great Common People duet. The skeptic brigade rolled in too, asking why this is topping tech feeds at all, with one sighing they’re “mystified” it’s on the front page.
Shatner says it’s not a novelty album, promising “massive guitars,” covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, plus originals. Rumors swirl that Zakk Wylde (who gifted him a guitar) and ex‑Megadeth shredder Chris Poland are in. Cue the meme lords: the classic “Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain” clip appeared, and someone even linked a TMZ bit of Shatner eating cereal in his car, marveling he’s 94 and still out here living.
Mini‑drama alert: some joked the promo photo guitar looks AI‑warped or “Chibson,” fueling the “novelty vs. serious art” debate. But the prevailing vibe? Equal parts nostalgia, chaos, and pure joy. Whether it rules or crashes, the internet is ready to crank the volume and argue about it loudly.
Key Points
- •William Shatner announced an untitled all-star heavy metal album featuring a roster of 35 metal icons he selected.
- •The project was inspired by Shatner’s spoken-word collaboration with Chris Poland on Nuclear Messiah’s album Black Flame.
- •No official artist names have been confirmed, though a guitar gift from Zakk Wylde motivated Shatner and suggests his involvement.
- •The album will include covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden songs, alongside original material.
- •Shatner frames the album as a serious, non-novelty project, drawing on his history of collaborations from Has Been (2004) and Bill (2021).