Countdown to 2025: 2 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 53 of 62 The Halo Effect

Swedish melodic death metal outfit The Halo Effect embarked on the metal seas for the first time in 2024. Formed in 2019 by former members of In Flames, the lineup consists of Niclas Engelin (guitar), Jesper Strömblad (guitar), Peter Iwers (bass), Mikael Stanne (vocals), and Daniel Svensson (drums). It was our first time witnessing the new project unfold live for both performances: the first set took place on Day 1, January 29, 2024, at the Royal Theater at 9:15 PM, and the second set was held on Day 4, February 1, 2024, on the Pool Deck at 7:30 PM. One of the happiest and most beloved musicians on the cruise is Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), as many were there to see him, mixed with In Flames fans and those who wanted to see both. Regardless of the reason, both sets had a packed crowd as many witnessed two incredible performances. 

What’s next for The Halo Effect?

There’s plenty more to come from these melodic death metal veterans. With the arrival of The Halo Effect’s sophomore album, March of the Unheard, released on January 10th via Nuclear Blast, the group will support the album on tour. Between their other projects, such as Stanne’s busy schedule with Dark Tranquillity, as well as his new ventures Grand Cadaver and Cemetery Skyline, the band already has a number of shows planned for 2025, including a European tour and a Japan tour later this year. Tour dates can be found on the band’s website.

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 [60 out of 60…or more?]:

Abysmal Dawn
Arcturus
Benighted
Beyond Creation
Cabrakaän
Candlemass
Crownshift
Decapitated
Delain
Destinity
Emperor
Ex Deo
Fabulae Dramatis
Finntroll
Flotsam & Jetsam
Fractal Sun
Hammerfall
Hate
Incantation
Ihsahn
In Extremo
Kalmah
Kissin’ Dynamite
Krisiun
Lutharo
Majestica
Matalobos
Metsatöll
Mork
Onslaught
Painful
Pessimist
Powerglove
Reaping Asmodeia
Samael
Septicflesh
Sepultura
Seven Kingdoms
Sonata Arctica
Stormruler
Stratovarius
Striker
Subway to Sally
Suffocation
Super Monster Party
Swallow The Sun
Symphony X
Tankard
Tenebrarum
The Dread Crew of Oddwood
The Kovenant
The Mourning
The Zenith Passage
Thy Antichrist
Total Death
Trollfest
Trouble
Twilight Force
Unleash the Archers
Warfield

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
Kataklysm
Katatonia
Leaves’ Eyes
Left-Övr
Lich King
Lord of the Lost
Monstrosity
My Dying Bride
Mystic Prophecy
Nanowar of Steel
Nervosa
Noturnall
Omnium Gatherum
Pentagram (Chile)
Rising Steel
Saor
Scar Symmetry
Serenity
Shores of Null
Syforger
Sodom
Temperance
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

author avatar
Zenae Zukowski