GODSMACK has begun work on the material for the band's follow-up to 2006's "IV."

Artisan News Service caught up with GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna to get his thoughts on the direction the new album is taking.

"It's gonna be really heavy," he said. "I mean, it's very aggressive. I'm not really sure; it's very premature right now. Right now we just finished one track for the Crüe Fest this Summer. But as far as the whole record goes, I think it's going to be a lot more in your face. I don't think there's going to be any 'Voodoo's or 'Serenity's on this one. We decided to go balls out!"

GODSMACK is part of the lineup for MÖTLEY CRÜE's Crüe Fest 2 tour, which will also include THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DROWNING POOL, and new act CHARM CITY DEVILS.

In late 2007, the band released a greatest hits collection called "Good Times, Bad Times - Ten Years of Godsmack" and announced that it was going on hiatus. Erna worked on his solo album during this period, while the other three members of the group started a side project called ANOTHER ANIMAL.

Erna recently completed work on his first solo album, although he has yet to reveal a title or release date for the disc.

Watch footage of Sully Erna talking about the next GODSMACK record HERE