Charting the course to 2024: reflecting on 70000tons of Metal 2023 Artist Spotlight: Kamelot

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 35: Kamelot.

No stranger to 70000tons, Kamelot returned for the fourth time, previously in 2012, 2017, and 2019, and their latest venture in 2023. These Floridian melodic power metal veterans have delivered stellar performances, even winning over those less inclined towards power metal. While some still miss Roy Khan, the addition of Tommy Karevik over a decade ago has infused the band with fresh creativity. Karevik, a powerful vocalist and dynamic performer, commands the stage. While bassist Sean Tibbetts holds down his fierce turns, the veteran himself, Thomas Youngblood, skillfully navigates the stage, swaying towards the back and engaging with keyboardist Oliver Palotai.

Kamelot set 1:

At 70000tons, the band invites at least one guest vocalist, and this year featured the mighty Melissa Bonny of Ad Infinitum. The group captured the cruisers for two powerful sets, with the first landing on Day 1, January 30, 2023, at 9:15 PM at the Royal Theater and making their way to the Pool Deck on Day 4, February 2, 2023, at 7:45 PM. We were there for both sets, of course. And it was exactly as we expected: pure excellence. The first set brought another surprise guest vocalist, Clementine Delauney of Visions of Atlantis, who also performed on the 2023 edition, to join in with Bonny and Karevik for the classic track “Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife).” Meanwhile, the second set gave the cruisers a live debut of “One More Flag in the Ground.”

Kamelot set 2:

The cruise preceded their new album, The Awakening, released on March 17, 2023, via Napalm Records. Praised by Dragony vocalist and Metal Insider contributor Siegfried Samer, it ranked #1 on his list, solidifying its place as one of the best in Kamelot’s catalog. It’s no secret Kamelot had a busy year, but luckily, drummer Alex Landenburg had some time to chat with us. Following the voyage and release of the album, the band ultimately embarked on their Awaken The World Tour 2023, which always comes with a strong lineup. During the summertime, they toured across North America with Battle Beast and Xandria, and now, they have another North American trek in the works for 2024. Youngblood has been dropping hints on his social media lately, making it well-known we will see more activity from them in 2024. Stay tuned!

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