Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with ICED EARTH's mastermind Jon Schaffer, who talked about the neck surgery he will have to undergo, the economic crisis, and the breaking news about the project he will put together with VOLBEAT’s Michael Poulsen. An excerpt follows:

Q: Will you return the favor [to Michael] and appear in the next Volbeat album?

A: "If Michael ever wants me to do something, I'll be there. He is one of my best friends in the world and we have already talked about doing a

project together. It's just a question of time when this is gonna happen."

Q: Have you talked about this or it's just an idea floating around?

A: "No, we've got a whole plan together. It's actually a plan from the logo and the name to even the songs and parts, the direction..."

Q: Apparently, you have put a lot of miles in this idea, so the name will be...

A: "I cannot say yet. We have the concept and some riffs and some ideas but it could still be two years from recordings."

Q: Who will be singing?

A: "Probably both of us. It's very possible. I mean, I'd want him to do the majority but we have plans of approaching the writing of the music differently which I think it's gonna create a pretty cool frankenstein. Like his duties are gonna be a specific thing and mine are gonna be a specific thing and we're kinda trading roles. I'm gonna be digging into like influences and stuff that people have never heard from me before."

You can listen to the entire conversation at this location.