They’ll kick off with a few Canadian gigs before pounding their way across the States. The band will keep up a steady pace of about six shows per week until the tour wraps at The Palladium in Worcester, Mass.

Stateside audiences got not one but two Opeth tours in 2003, and the fans showed their appreciation with many a sold-out show.

In keeping with the pairs theme, Opeth released two albums within six months: first the familiar death metal of Deliverance and then the more experimental, reflective Damnation. Word has it the two discs were originally meant to comprise one double album, but those persuasive record company types insisted on a split.

Opening duties this time around will be handled by Portuguese goth-metal band Moonspell, along with Devildriver (the new project of Coal Chamber’s B. Dez Fafara).