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 49: Rotting Christ.

Greek melodic black metal veterans Rotting Christ embarked on the metal seas for the second time in 2023, first in 2016. The first set took place on Day 2, January 31, 2023, darkening the Royal Theater at 3:15 PM, and their second set in direct sunlight on Day 4, February 2, 2023, on the Pool Deck. Despite the usual challenges, we did everything we could and luckily made it to both sets. The group charged through their first round, giving the crowd a blistering performance with dimmed lights providing a bleak, rotting atmosphere. However, they saved their commemorative set for the Pool Deck, celebrating 30 years of 1993’s The Mighty Contract. Performing with ease, the group performed the record in its entirety underneath the formidable sunlight. It was a fantastic run-through and a reminder of the 70000tons experience, giving bands such opportunities for special and unique sets.

Rotting Christ Set 1:

As for Rotting Christ, these Greek masters are up to quite a bit. While we were blown away by their 70000tons set, we had to see them again in Atlanta shortly after during their 2023 spring North American Tour. As we look further ahead, the band has since announced their long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s The Heretics with their new album, Pro Xristoy, scheduled to arrive on May 24 via Season of Mist. The group will also make a return to North America this spring with mostly Canadian stops. Support will come from Uada and Abigail Williams.

Rotting Christ Set 2:

Tour Dates:

03/25 Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom

03/26 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

03/27 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater

03/29 Calgary, AB @ Dickens

03/30 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room

03/31 Regina, SK @ The Exchange

04/01 Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theater

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 61 out of 60, with potentially one more “W” band to be added making 62 out of 60 promised bands. Also, check out Metal Insider’s 70000tons essential packing guide.

2024 70000tons of Metal artists:

Aborted
Acod
Angra
April Art
Arion
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