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 43: Nothgard.
German melodic death metal group Nothgard made a powerful debut on the international metal seas during the 2023 edition of 70000tons of Metal. They had the chance of a lifetime to introduce their tunes to 3,000 metalheads from around the globe. Their first appearance took place on Day 2, January 31, 2023, at the Ice Rink Theater at 2:30 PM, followed by a second performance on Day 3, February 1, 2023, at 2:15 AM in the intimate Star Lounge. Despite the tight schedule, we caught part of their second set and were pleasantly surprised by Nothgard’s robust live execution, showcasing a heavy focus on melodic death metal. The intimate atmosphere added an extra touch of old-school vibes, leaving the audience eager for more.
Nothgard
Looking ahead, following their latest EP, Symphonia Deorum, released shortly after the 2023 70000tons edition on February 17, the band appears to have new music on the horizon. The group hinted at recording new tracks back in June 2023, revealing they were spending some time at Splendid Wave Studios. We’re certain there will be much more to come from these German melodic death metallers throughout this year.
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 initially moved fast and suddenly went on a halt. However, things are back on track with 59 out of 60 announced thus far. Also, check out Metal Insider’s 70000tons essential packing guide.
2024 70000tons of Metal artists:
Aborted
Angra
April Art
Avulsed
Before the Dawn
Blind Guardian
Blood Red Throne
Carnation
Crypta
Dalriada
Décembre Noir
Disillusion
Draconian
Dynazty
Edenbridge
Einherjer
Endseeker
Epica
Equilibrium
Fleshcrawl
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Graceless
Grave Digger
Heidevolk
I Am The Night Horde
Infected Rain
Inhuman Condition
Iotunn
Kataklysm
Katatonia
Leaves’ Eyes
LEFT-ÖVR
Legion of the Damned
Lord of the Lost
Marduk
My Dying Bride
Mystic Prophecy
Nanowar of Steel
Nervosa
Nile
Noturnail
Omnium Gatherum
Rising Steel
Saor
Scar Symmetry
Serenity
Shores of Null
Skyforger
Sodom
Temperance
The Halo Effect
Threshold
Tygers of Pan Tang
Unleashed
Victory
Vision Divine
Waltari
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
Edge of Paradise
Eleine
Elvenking
Empress
Eshtadur
Evergrey
Fallujah
Feuerschwanz
Fractal Universe
Freedom Call
God Dethroned
Hei’An
Hideous Divinity
Hypocrisy
Insomnium
Internal Bleeding
Iron Savior
Isole
Jungle Rot
Kamelot
Keep of Kalessin
Korpiklaani
Kreator
Månegarm
Melechesh
Nightmare
NIghtwish