Countdown to 2025: 1 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 62 of 62 Wolfheart
Finnish melodic death metal outfit Wolfheart have gained momentum since their first appearance on the cruise in 2018. Whether it was the cruise itself or the band’s consistent release of impeccable records, thanks to mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen, their second voyage on the metal seas made one thing clear: the cruisers love Wolfheart. Their first set took place on Day 2, January 30, 2024, on the Pool Deck at 3:30 AM, and they had the honor of closing out the entire festivities on Day 4, February 1, 2024, at Studio B Ice Rink Theater at 1:30 AM.
Fittingly, Wolfheart also marks the final entry in the 2024 Artist Spotlights, a record we weren’t sure we’d complete this year. We attended both sets, but while the first involved cameras, the second was about enjoying the moment with friends, a seat, and no gear attached. Their late-night Pool Deck set was bathed in red and blue lights, a standard setup for many of the late-night performances. Shrouded in darkness, Wolfheart delivered a performance that channeled every dark emotion through crushing riffs and blackened beats.
While the second set followed a similar execution, one unexpected highlight stood out, one we now wish we had captured in photos. At some point, Saukkonen was wearing a bright yellow Pokémon hat handed to him by a fan in the crowd. He wore it effortlessly, delivering a brutal, melancholic set with a gotta-catch-’em-all flair. It was the perfect way to close another year of sleepless delirium, relentless hard work, and, most importantly, outstanding music from bands of all sizes.
What’s next for Wolfheart?
After disembarking from the boat, Wolfheart went straight to work with an intense touring schedule. By September 6, 2024, their new album, Draconian Darkness, had arrived, followed by even more touring. Now that the dust has settled, no official shows have been announced yet, but we can only expect another packed schedule from them soon.
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 61 out of 60:
Abysmal Dawn
Arcturus
Benighted
Beyond Creation
Cabrakaän
Candlemass
Crownshift
Decapitated
Delain
Destinity
Dirkschneider
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
The Halo Effect
Threshold
Tygers of Pan Tang
Unleashed
Victory
Vision Divine
Waltari
Warkings
Wind Rose
Kyle’s Top 10 Moments of 70000tons 2024
Tom’s Top 10 Sets of 70000tons 2024