70000tons 2025 Artist Spotlight: Unleash the Archers

Countdown to 2026: 14 Days

SOOOOOOON, a word 70000tons of Metal cruisers know all too well, love it or hate it. 70000tons of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, returns for its 2026 edition from January 29 – February 2, 2026, setting sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, The Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. For booking and full details are available on the official website. Read our essential packing guide here. Check out the testimonials from several 2025 artists at this location.

70000tons 2025 Round 13: ARTIST 60 of 61 Unleash the Archers

Stats

2025 Voyage:

Dates: January 30 – February 3, 2025
Destination: Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ship: Independence of the Seas

Artist Spotlight

Band: Unleash the Archers
Number of 70000tons Appearances: 2 (2019, 2025)
Set 1: January 31, 2025 – Pool Deck – 2:15 am
Set 2: February 1, 2025 – Royal Theater – 5:45 pm
Attended: Set 1 – Yes, Set 2 – Yes
Country: Canada
Genre: Power Metal
Latest Album: Phantoma (2024)
Standout Moment(s):
One of the fastest-rising bands in the power metal scene today is Unleash the Archers. Their 2024 release, Phantoma, is a clear marker of how far the band has evolved since 2009’s Behold the Devastation. While that growth is evident on record, it’s in the live setting where the band truly detonates. Fueled by Brittney Slayes’ commanding vocals and magnetic stage presence, their performances radiate bold, fierce energy that’s impossible to look away from. We were fortunate enough to catch both sets on the voyage: the first igniting the Pool Deck at 2:00 AM, and the second lighting up the Royal Theater on Day 3 as cruisers returned from the excursion day. Each performance was delivered with excellence.

Unleash the Archers – Set 1

Unleash the Archers – Set 2

Latest Unleash the Archers News

On January 1, 2026, Unleash the Archers made it clear that 2026 will be a quieter year for the band, with their focus shifting toward working on their next album. The band stated:

“We hit the ground running in 2025 with the raddest time ever on @70000tons surrounded by many friends and long-time fans. Then we wasted no time hitting the road through Europe in February with our besties @strikermetal and @sevenkingdomsofficial which was truly unforgettable and full of some hilarious memories. Then we took a breather before heading back out to Europe in July for our mini UK tour and the @wolfweez_festival_ , @pirate.metal.party, @dark_river_festival and @area53festival shows. Huge thank you to everyone that came out for that and checked out our sets! Also just a massive thank you in general to all of our fans that came out to support in 2025; whether it was in person at a show, by buying merch from one of our online shops or just listening to our tunes digitally, we love you and we appreciate you!

All that being said, we are going to take it easy on touring in 2026 and instead focus on album number seven, which is most definitely already well under way We are also hoping to put another cover or two up on our YouTube channel so be sure to head over there and subscribe if you haven’t had a chance yet! Lastly, we’re just putting the finishing touches on our Time Stands Still 10th Anniversary Redux and we are so excited for you all to hear it. It sounds like a whole new record and we can’t wait to put it out there for you all later this year (one year late yes, but hopefully you will all agree it was worth it!)

We may be a little quiet this year, but just know that we are working hard to bring you new music and exciting things for 2027! With the demos we have in hand so far, it feels like this next record is going to go deeper and heavier than we’ve ever gone before… Let us know what you think in the comments! Take care and we’ll keep you posted Have an amazing 2026 everybody!!!”

What is the Artist Spotlight?

Well, it’s more than a review of their performance; as 70000tons goes, each band is a headliner, and we treat each one as such, giving them their own spread, discussing who they are and what they’ve been up to since the cruise. Each spotlight coincides with any updates from 70000tons organizers (if any), leading to days before setting sail. An extensive coverage like no other.

70000tons 2026 Lineup 53 out of 60:

Ad Infinitum
Amorphis
Anthrax
Arkona
Beast in Black
Bloodred Hourglass
Cemetery Skyline
Darkane
Dark Tranquillity
Dødheimsgard
Dragonland
Dust Bolt
Eluveitie
Ereb Altor
Firewind
Gama Bomb
Groza
Haggard
Harakiri For The Sky
Heathen
Hiraes
Hirax
Hour of Penance
Ignea
Illdisposed
Illumishade
In Mourning
Insomnium
Izegrim
Jag Panzer
Kamelot
Kanonenfieber
Orden Ogan
Paradise Lost
Persefone
Rhapsody of Fire
Royal Hunt
Satan
Saturnus
Seven Spires
Skeletal Remains
Skyclad
Soen
Soilwork
Suidakra
Tribulation
Tyr
Vader
VBO
Vio-lence
Wind Rose
Wolf
Xandria