UNIVERSAL CITY, California - Death metal is devoid of sensitivity. Or, at least, it was. Don't believe it? Look no further than Opeth's forthcoming album, Watershed, which is - brace yourself - a death-metal album all about love and relationships.

The effort - which is the Swedish band's ninth and drops June 3 - is a towering moment of personal catharsis for frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, he revealed to Metal Monarchy before playing as part of the Progressive Nation tour on Friday.