70000tons of Metal 2024 Artist Spotlight: Before The Dawn

Countdown to 2025: 51 Days

SOOOOOOON, the famous word for 70000tons of Metal cruisers know to love and hate. And one thing you learn is announcements are always unpredictable. After experiencing the 2024 edition to its fullest capability, we captured all sixty-two bands, bringing back our Artist Spotlight, our countdown to the 2025 voyage, leaving on January 30 in Miami, setting sail to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and returning on February 3, 2025. Round 12, the 2024 experience, took place from January 29 – February 2, sailing from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on the Freedom of the Seas.

70000tons 2024 Round 12: ARTIST 8 of 62 Before The Dawn

Finnish melodic death metal outfit Before The Dawn, led by mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen, returned in 2021 after disbanding in 2013, when Saukkonen halted all projects to create Wolfheart. Now, both Wolfheart and Before The Dawn coexist, with both bands performing at 2024’s 70000tons of Metal. The band marked their ultimate return with the release of their latest album, Stormbringers, in 2023.

While Wolfheart is no stranger to the metal cruise, 2024 was Before The Dawn’s debut. Their first set took place on Day 2, January 30, at 5:00 AM on the Pool Deck, ironically timed “before the dawn.” Their second set followed on Day 4, February 1, at 8:15 PM in the Studio B Ice Rink Theater.

We braved heavy eyes to catch their first performance, where the band delivered an intense and brutal set under the ocean’s starlit sky. Their commanding return left fans eager for more.

What’s next for Before The Dawn?

Before The Dawn continued their resurgence with the release of their EP, Archaic Flame, in March 2024, shortly after their performance on 70000tons of Metal. Despite Tuomas Saukkonen’s demanding schedule with Wolfheart and Dawn of Solace, fans can expect more from Before The Dawn. The band are set to support Swallow The Sun on their Shining Over Europe 2025 spring tour alongside Stam1na. Tickets are available at this location.

What is the Artist Spotlight?

Well, it’s more than a review of their performance; as 70000tons goes, each band is a headliner, and we treat each one as such, giving them their own spread, discussing who they are and what they’ve been up to since the cruise. Each spotlight coincides with any updates from 70000tons organizers (if any), leading to days before setting sail. An extensive coverage like no other.

What does 70000tons 2025 look like?

There’s a reason why we want to keep going until we can’t. With at least 120 promised shows, bands performing twice within four days, including an All-Star Jam, Belly Flop Contest, Shore Excursions, meet and greets, clinics, workshops, pool girls and boys, hot tub mosh pits, cosplay madness, and much more. 2025, round 13 of 70000tons of Metal will bring cruisers back on the Independence of the Seas, setting sail on January 30 from Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and returning to Miami on February 3, 2025. Tickets are available here. Also, check out the essential packing guide here.

70000tons 2025 Lineup [34 out of 60]:

Arcturus
Benighted
Beyond Creation
Candlemass
Crownshift
Decapitated
Delain
Emperor
Ex Deo
Finntroll
Flotsam & Jetsam
Hammerfall
Ihsahn
In Extremo
Kalmah
Krisiun
Majestica
Mork
Onslaught
Samael
Septicflesh
Sepultura
Sonata Arctica
Stratovarius
Subway to Sally
Swallow The Sun
Symphony X
Tankard
The Kovenant
The Zenith Passage
Trollfest
Trouble
Twilight Force
Unleash the Archers