Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza posted the following clip of Christmas cheer on December 25th, appropriately dubbed "The Night Before Christmas".

Menza: "Tiz the night before X-Mas. There were my 2 boys running around , and some drums playing in background. Silent night ? I don't think so... :) "

Back in November, it was announced that guitarist Chris Poland, known best for his work on Megadeth’s legendary first two albums - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986) - has been officially added as the “lead player” on the new as-yet-untitled project from former Megadeth members, Nick Menza (drums) and James Lomenzo (bass).

Menza is working on the new project, while also working on another project, Atomic Disintegrator, a collaboration with Polish guitarist Widek (Maciej Dawidek) featuring Symphony X bassist Mike LePond and Threat Signal frontman Jon Howard.

Metal Wani's Debarati Das and William Richards had a chat with Nick Menza. He discussed his new project with Lomenzo and Poland, possible new album, Megadeth reunion and much more. An excerpt follows:

Q: First of all, fans are very excited to see you, Chris Poland and James Lomenzo come together and form a band. So how did it all happen? Other than the obvious ties to Megadeth, what brought the three of you together?

A: "Poland, Lomenzo and I decided to get together for a jam session last month. I also had a jam session with Lomenzo at the Disintegrator Studios back in June where we cycled around some of old Megadeth, some Metallica and Led Zeppelin. We began exploring a bunch of riffs we had, just to figure out what fits and what doesn’t. That’s how it began."

Q: How would you define the sound of the new project? Some have described as ‘Led Zeppelin meets Metallica’! Does the songwriting adopt a straightforward approach or is it an amalgamation of different styles?

A: "Well.. this new project is nothing like what’s been heard already. The sound is gonna be heavy, but that being said, it will also be a massive mixture of different styles, aggression and creativity. We like to enjoy to the fullest, playing our music and that is exactly what it is gonna be like. It might have some elements reminiscent of the bands you mentioned but the new material is gonna sound very different and pumped while we have fun playing it!"

Q: So, when can we expect to listen to some substantial original material released by the supergroup?

A: "Very soon! We have a few very heavy songs in the can and we are exploring a good deal of possibilities in the new material. We’re planning a release sometime in early 2015."

Read the full interview at this location.

The trio appeared on December 9th on the new online program, Inside Metal, with host Bob Nalbandian. Watch the guys talk about the new project below:

Menza and Lomenzo's cover of the Metallica classic “Motorbreath”, featuring the vocals of Davor Garašićfrom the Croatian thrash metal band Sufosia, can be heard below:

Menza joined Megadeth for the 1990 recording Rust In Peace and for the next ten years became associated with the band's "classic" and most profitable era.

Following the reissue of the entire Megadeth catalog, Menza was invited to reunite with the band in 2004. Days after a reunion was announced, Menza was fired and replaced with Shawn Drover. Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine said that this was because Nick "just wasn't prepared."

Lomenzo joined Megadeth in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's United Abominations and 2009's Endgame. He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with returning original Megadeth bassist David Ellefson.