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 16: Edge of Paradise.

 

Los Angeles rockers Edge of Paradise pleasantly surprised cruisers during the 2023 edition of 70000tons of Metal, marking their first-ever experience on the metal seas. Initially assumed to be in the realm of symphonic metal giants like Nightwish and Epica due to the presence of a female vocalist, the group’s music, however, distinguishes itself with a focus on heavy metal and hard rock elements, led by Margarita Monet.

At the beginning of 2023, unaware of what lay ahead, the band introduced their style to nearly 3,000 metalheads from around the world on the cruise. Their latest album, Hologram, was almost six months away from release at that time, eventually arriving in July via Frontiers. Edge of Paradise showcased their LA rock style on Day 2 (January 31st) at the Start Lounge and Day 4 (February 2nd) at the Royal Theater, both at 5:15 PM. Despite initially planning to stay for only a few songs, the band’s powerful stage presence and energy compelled us to watch the entire set. It was a powerful delivery, and we were excited to find out their 70000tons of Metal appearance was just the beginning for them to gain further traction.

Since then, Edge of Paradise has continued their momentum, joining forces with 70000tons of Metal 2023 edition fellow-cruisers Dragonforce on a North American trek. This gave them more opportunities to showcase their latest offering across the continent, where we were there for the Florida stop. Looking ahead, the band is set for more touring in the spring of 2024, supporting Firewind’s headlining trek across the states. For those seeking heavy music with a touch of LA glam, Edge of Paradise is an act not to be missed.

 

Edge of Paradise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

Abysmal Dawn

Amberian Dawn

Amorphis

Atrocity

Batushka

Belphegor

Bodyfarm

Cancer

Cryptosis

Cynic

Dark Tranquillity

Dear Mother

Deathless Legacy

Destruction

Dragonforce