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 33: Isole.
Sweden’s Isole not only made their inaugural appearance on 70000tons but were also distinguished as the sole doom band aboard the ship. Furthermore, marking a significant milestone, it served as the band’s closest North American performance in their almost two-decade history. Their initial performance unfolded in the intimate Star Lounge on Day 2, January 31st, at 10:45 PM, followed by a second set on Day 4, February 2nd, at Studio B – Ice Rink at 10:45 PM. Despite the tight and occasionally conflicting schedule, we caught a portion of their first set, with doom and gloom taking center stage.
At this point of the year, the group was approximately six weeks away from releasing their new album, Anesidora, which hit the shelves on March 10th, 2024, via Hammerheart Records. Consequently, the band had the opportunity to offer something special to the metal cruisers by delivering the live debut of “The Songs of the Whales.” Overall, their performance was a refreshing change with their morbid flow. There’s always an added appreciation for smaller spaces that enhance bleak and sorrowful musical performances.
Isole
Based on our observations, we hope they consider booking a tour or making appearances at events like Maryland DeathFest or other festivals to grace North American soil. Isole concluded their 2023 touring and already have a few shows lined up for 2024. In the meantime, if you like doom, pick up their new album and listen to it.
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:
