The official SYMPHONY X French site The Eyes Of Medusa caught up with bassist Michael Lepond on the Power Of Metal Tour 2011 with co-headliners NEVERMORE. Lepond talked about the band's forthcoming album Iconoclast, due out later this year by Nuclear Blast. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

The Eyes Of Medusa: We guess that the album is either wrapped-up or in its final stages. Can you tell us who handled the sound mixing/engineering?

Lepond: "The album is complete and has been delivered to the label company. Of course, Michael Romeo handled the sound engineering and recorded everybody at the Dungeon. The mixing and mastering were done by Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA). He's probably the best I've ever heard at what he does, he is amazing. We're all very excited."

The Eyes Of Medusa: Have you kept the same cover artist for this new album?

Lepond: "Yes, the artwork was done by Warren Flanagan. It's a different design from Paradise Lost, but the guy is unbelievable. He's a fan of Symphony X so he enjoys doing it. I've seen the album cover and it's really really good."

The Eyes Of Medusa: Is this what we can see on the new merch?

Lepond: "No, I believe it's part of the artwork, the album cover is much more elaborate. We also took promotional pictures before we left for the tour by a photographer named Danny Sanchez (note: he also took the pics of Russell Allen for his solo album Atomic Soul). He lives close to where we rehearse. It's a nice group of studio shots. So far everything is looking good."

The Eyes Of Medusa: We now know the overall theme of the album being about the overwhelming presence of machines and technology in our every day lives. What’s your personal opinion about this?

Lepond: "What we were trying to talk about with the theme is when technology with machines goes so far and you start not to think about the consequences. There might be a time where technology is pushed so far that the machines take over and cause serious problems. That was basically the idea and I think that’s a possibility in the real world: anything you do, you have to have morality in it, you always have to think of the consequences rather than just say to yourself 'I’m going to do this and get rich and who cares!'”

Read the entire interview (in French and English) here.

Check out more photos of Symphony X and Nevermore at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland here.

Check out footage of the new Iconoclast song 'The End Of Innocence' below: