Countdown to 2025: 9 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 31 of 62 Kataklysm
Canada’s melodic death metal unit Kataklysm returned to the metal seas for their fourth time in 2024, following previous appearances in 2012, 2015, and 2018. No strangers to the ship, the band entertained 3,000 cruisers while treating the trip as their own vacation, enjoying four days of adventure and hot tub debauchery.
The group’s first set took place on Day 1, January 29, 2024, at 7:30 PM in the Royal Theater, featuring a special performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2004 album Serenity In Fire. Their second set occurred on Day 3, January 31, 2024, at 6:30 PM on the Pool Deck. We attended their first enthusiastic set, blasting into their classic material.
What’s next for Kataklysm?
Kataklysm appear to be keeping things quiet for now as frontman Maurizio Iacono’s symphonic death metal project, Ex Deo, takes the spotlight. Ex Deo are set to perform at the 2025 edition of 70000tons. As for Kataklysm, only time will tell if there will be a follow-up to 2023’s Goliath or additional shows added to their live schedule this year.
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
Artist Spotlight 2024:
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
Infected Rain
Inhuman Condition
Iotunn
Kyle’s Top 10 Moments of 70000tons 2024
Tom’s Top 10 Sets of 70000tons 2024
Artist Spotlight 2023:
Recap from 2023 artists
Shortcut to all 60 artists here