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.

A lot can change in 17 years. That's how long Kurt Ballou has been playing guitar for Massachusetts metalcore act Converge. "I'm 34 years old," says Kurt. "I was only 21 when I wrote [one of Converge's most popular songs] 'The Saddest Day.' I'm just not the same person I was then. It feels like I'm playing a cover song."

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Barney Greenway, vocalist of the legendary grindcore outfit Napalm Death, took a few minutes on Monday to chat on the phone with TheReaper. The band is currently on tour with Devildriver. Barney had plenty to say about the tour, the state of extreme music, politics and what the future will bring for both him and the band.

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