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 11: Dark Tranquillity.
Swedish melodic death metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity have solidified their status as a beloved act on the 70000tons of Metal cruise. Vocalist Mikael Stanne’s friendly and humble demeanor has made him a familiar face on the boat. The band’s appearance earlier this year marked their fourth return to the metal seas, earning them gold status and setting the stage for their 2020 album, Moment, which was likely the beginning of the end supporting their twelfth record. We attended both of their sets, with the first on day 2, January 31st, at 7:00 PM at the Royal Theater and the final day, February 2nd, just before Nightwish’s closing performance at 9:30 PM on the Pool Deck.
Opening with “Identical to None” and mixing in older hits like “Monochromatic Stains,” Dark Tranquillity delivered a performance that resonated with fans. Saluting with inflatable sharks and headbanging away while the band perfectly choreographed their motions to ensure no one bumped into Stanne, known for his extensive energy, barely standing in one spot for too long on the stage. The indoor performance felt more intimate, but there was room for more momentum on the pool deck.
Dark Tranquillity Set 1:
Luckily, having a near-flawless extensive catalog, Dark Tranquillity treated cruisers to two unique sets, closing both with the fan-favorite “Misery’s Crown.” No Dark Tranquillity show is complete without it. They also went into a personal favorite, “ThereIn.” The final night featured a special moment: under the stars, seeing Stanne jump into the crowd, singing while crowd-surfing—an intimate connection that brought tears to the eyes of embracing fans.
While Dark Tranquillity may not return for the 2024 cruise, Stanne will return with his new project, The Halo Effect, promising new surprises. As for Dark Tranquillity, there will definitely be new faces in the band’s next chapter as guitarist Christopher Amott said farewell to the group shortly after their 70000th appearance. However, the latest chapter, with new faces, will be shown as the band works on album number thirteen.
Dark Tranquillity Set 2:
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, 37 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
Thyrfing
Tygers of Pan Tang
Unleashed
Victory
Warkings
Wind Rose
2023 Artist Spotlight:
