Artist Spotlight: 70000tons 2023

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 46: Obscura.

Germany’s progressive technical death metal masters, Obscura, embarked on their second voyage on the metal seas, following their initial experience in 2018 and a return in 2023. The group’s first set took place on Day 2, January 31, 2023, at the Pool Deck at 2:30 PM, while their second set induced a familiar Obscura style in darkness on Day 3, February 1, 2023, at Studio B Ice Rink Theater at 11:45 PM. Although we intended to witness these giants twice, conflicts or cruise dynamics occurred, making us attend only their second set.

Obscura are masters at progressive tech death metal, and that’s all thanks to mastermind Steffen Kummerer. Kummerer’s guitar capabilities are executed naturally, without a hint of challenge. Always knowing how to impress the audience, it was a pleasant surprise to have them return to the metal seas.

Obscura

Since the release of 2021’s A Valediction and their 2023 live album, A Celebration I – Live in North America, there is uncertainty regarding Obscura’s plans for new music. However, the promise for more tours in 2024 is evident, as Obscura are set to join forces with Cynic for a European tour in March. This tour will likely open doors for more tours, so watch out.

For Kummerer’s other projects, his melodic black/death metal endeavor, Thulcandra, gained traction with the 2023 release of Hail the Abyss, considered a strong contender for best albums that year. This success may offer insights into why Obscura had a relatively quiet year in terms of new music. We can only expect to hear more from them as the year progresses.

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