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 53: The Crown.

Sweden’s melodic death thrashers The Crown made their debut on the metal seas in 2023, diving into their first set on Day 1, January 30, 2023, at Studio B – Ice Rink at 6:45 PM. Their second set unfolded towards the end on Day 4, February 2, 2023, at the intimate Star Lounge at 1:00 PM.

We raced in just in time for their first set. Being the first day on the voyage and their overall debut appearance in front of 3,000 metalheads on the Freedom of the Seas, the band wasted no time thrusting into a ferocious performance. The energy remained fierce until the end when they had the opportunity to celebrate twenty years of 2003’s Possessed 13.

The Crown

Looking ahead to 2024, the group may plan to work on the follow-up to 2021’s Royal Destroyer. Coincidentally, these Swedes are facing a brutal winter, giving them a moment to reflect on their time at 70000tons with much warmer weather conditions. It was this post that they stated being at The Crown HQ. Whether that meant rehearsing for their upcoming shows, planning on celebrating twenty years of 2004’s Crowned Unholy, working on new music, or a bit of each, it will all eventually be answered 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, and looks to be final(?). With last minute cancellations and possible surprise announcements, one can never be so sure until the actual voyage begins. Following the reveal that Draconian and Marduk were forced to drop off and adding Wolfheart and Pentagram (Chile) to the mix, the “B” band has been unveiled. While 2023 we saw Batushka perform, this year, we will see Krzysztof Drabikowski’s Batushka, making 62 out of 60 bands thus far. In case you missed it, check out Metal Insider’s 70000tons essential packing guide.

2024 70000tons of Metal artists:

Aborted
Acod
Angra
April Art
Arion
Avulsed
Krzysztof Drabikowski’s Batushka
Before the Dawn
Blind Guardian
Blood Red Throne
Carnation
Crypta
Dalriada
Décembre Noir
Disillusion
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
My Dying Bride
Mystic Prophecy
Nanowar of Steel
Nervosa
Nile
Noturnail
Omnium Gatherum
Pentagram (Chile)
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
Wolfheart