We’re counting down to the 2024 edition of 70000 tons of Metal! This is by far one of our personal favorite metal cruises where every artist is a headliner. Metalheads from around the globe share an insane experience of four days with very little to no sleep of nonstop metal shows. From big pool deck experiences to the intimate Star Lounge, there’s something for all metalheads regardless of subgenre, and we love it all. 2023 marked a significant return for the cruise after all cruises generally faced a halt due to the pandemic. The event’s future was uncertain, but it returned, giving sixty unique artists a go. This year we saw a number of acts having their first experience on the boat to artists having some notable silver-to-gold member status returns. We managed to capture all sixty bands, and as we countdown to the 2024 edition, we will share artist spotlights from the 2023 expedition leading up to the 2024 voyage. Artist Number 31: Internal Bleeding.
Long Island brutal death metal giants Internal Bleeding made their second appearance on the metal seas, first in 2018 and then in 2023. For the 2023 edition, the band tore through the intimate Star Lounge for their initial set on Day 1, January 30, 2023, at 2:15 AM, reserving the ultimate chaos for their second set on Day 3, February 1st, at 10:30 PM at the Studio B – Ice Rink Theater. We somehow made it through and survived their second set. It was arguably the most enjoyable set on the cruise, mainly thanks to the fantastic security team.
Getting to the set started out normal, showing credentials to enter the photo pit, capturing photos of the band on the very tall stage. Then, suddenly, within seconds, things got crazy. Guitarist Chris Pervelis and vocalist Steve Worley entered the photo pit area, and the entire security staff decided to headbang along to some brutal death metal. It was pretty wild. With barely any lights within the barricade/photo pit area, we did our best to capture what was happening. Utter chaos ensued, with security somehow magically multitasking by keeping fellow metalheads safe, catching each crowd surfer, safeguarding the band members, and ensuring us photographers didn’t get hit, all while headbanging along. It was amazing. The crowd truly enjoyed it, which also showcased a nod to the Long Island metal scene.
Internal Bleeding
Internal Bleeding has turned up the intensity, and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2024 has to offer for them. Having just completed their touring run for 2023, it seems like 2024 will be another exciting year as they will be joining Hatebreed during one of their Long Island Residency performances, as well as appearing in the 2024 edition of the Decibel Magazine Metal and Beer fest in Philly and later Milwaukee Metalfest.
70000 tons of Metal will return on January 29th, setting sail from Miami, FL to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and back on February 2nd with another batch promising sixty bands to perform twice throughout the waves of adventure. The announcements have been moving fast this year as tickets have already gone on sale, and, well no updates since our last post but, in case you missed it, 36 bands out of 60 have been revealed thus far:
2024 70000tons of Metal artists:
Aborted
Angra
Blind Guardian
Blood Red Throne
Crypta
Dalriada
Depressive Age
Draconian
Dynazty
Epica
Equilibrium
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Grave Digger
Heidevolk
Infected Rain
Iotunn
Kataklysm
Legion of the Damned
Lord of the Lost
Marduk
My Dying Bride
Mystic Prophecy
Nanowar of Steel
Nervosa
Nile
Omnium Gatherum
Saor
Scar Symmetry
Serenity
Sodom
The Halo Effect
Tygers of Pan Tang
Unleashed
Victory
Warkings
Wind Rose
2023 Artist Spotlight:
