Hollywood legend SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE (Lord Of The Rings) released his second heavy metal album on his 91st birthday on Monday, May 27th on audio CD, a two-disc Gatefold Vinyl and MP3 downloads. The follow-up to 2010's Charlemagne: By The Sword is titled Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death and features music arranged by JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner.

Lee recently spoke with Skullbanger.net about the new album. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Skullbanger: You have obviously been a major influence to metal musicians through your film work, with Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH) giving you credit for helping create the metal genre. How does it feel be credited as being such an influence on the metal genre and now being part of the genre itself?

Christopher Lee: "Going back to the early stages of my career. My work, my acting has always been influenced by the German composer Wagner. Now that I have been able to listen to many metal albums, I realise that the genre is a direct evolution of the world and the sounds that Wagner imagined. I am of course very pleased and honoured to have been able to carry these themes through."

Skullbanger: You have worked with RHAPSODY and MANOWAR and now it seems you have awakened the heavy metal beast inside of you and are doing your own metal albums with Charlemagne. Are there any other heavy metal artists out there you would be interested in collaborating with?

Christopher Lee: "It’s fair to say that since the early 1970’s I had been asked to do collaborations with metal bands and even now I receive offers from various bands. I guess that the difference between then and now is that I have more time to explore projects that are different and new to me. I take the same approach as when a movie offer comes through, I look at the story and the character that I am asked to portray and if it appeals to me, I will do it. As things stand now, I am already committed into participating in several projects, one of which will be announced fairly soon."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death tracklisting with times:

The Portent' (4:29)

'Charles The Great' (6:23)

'The Siege' (7:09)

'Massacre Of The Saxons' (5:41)

'Dawning Of A New Age' (4:40)

'Let Legend Mark Me as the King' (5:45)

'The Betrayal' (5:02)

'The Devil's Advocate' (4:54)

'The Ultimate Sacrifice' (5:09)

'Judgement Day' (3:41)

Check out a preview below:

"The first Charlemagne album is metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic," Sir Christopher Lee says. "Now, on the second one, The Omens of Death, it is one hundred percent heavy metal. I've done my bits and pieces and they are heavy metal. I'm not screaming or anything like that, but it is definitely heavy metal."

Singers:

Christopher Lee as Charlemagne (Ghost)

Vincent Ricciardi as Young Charlemagne

Phil S.P as Pippin The Short

Mauro Conti as Pope Hadrian

Lydia Salnikova as Hildegard

Gorgon Tittsworth as Roland

Aaron Cloutier as Duke Lop

Daniel Vasconcelos as Oliver

Musicians:

Electric Guitar: Hedras Ramos Jr.

Bass Guitar: Hedras Ramos Sr.

Drums: Ollie Usiskin