Sir Christopher Lee: Most Metal Octogenarian Ever?

After ruling an army of ogres from atop a monolith in Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring, Sir Christopher Lee didn’t really need to prove how metal he was to anyone. But just in case his fight with Gandalf the Grey, his recently-bestowed knighthood and the fact that he has filmed more sword fights than any other actor aren’t enough to convince you of his worthiness of the sign of the beast, the 87-year-old has announced plans to release what he’s calling a “symphonic metal” concept album based on the life of Charlemagne.

Sir Lee teamed up with Italian composer Marco Sabiu, who has collaborated with Kylie Minogue and Pavorotti, and writer Marie-Claire Calvet to pay homage to the first Holy Roman Emperor, who also happens to be Lee’s ancestor. The album, featuring a full orchestra, heavy-metal musicians, a choir and special guest vocalists, drops March 15. Samples can be heard here. Our favorite lyrical nugget so far? “I shed the blood of the Saxon men!”

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