70000tons of Metal 2025 Artist Spotlight: Samael

Countdown to 2026: 24 Days

SOOOOOOON, a word 70000tons of Metal cruisers know all too well, love it or hate it. 70000tons of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, returns for its 2026 edition from January 29 – February 2, 2026, setting sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, The Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. For booking and full details are available on the official website. Read our essential packing guide here. Check out the testimonials from several 2025 artists at this location.

70000tons 2025 Round 13: ARTIST 36 of 61 Samael

Stats

2025 Voyage:

Dates: January 30 – February 3, 2025
Destination: Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ship: Independence of the Seas

Artist Spotlight

Band: Samael
Number of 70000tons Appearances: 4 (2012, 2016, 2018, 2025)
Set 1: January 31, 2025 – Pool Deck – 3:45 am – Passage Set
Set 2: February 2, 2025 – Studio B – Ice Rink – 10:30 pm – Ceremony of Opposites Set
Attended: Set 1 – Yes, Set 2 – Yes
Country: Switzerland
Genre: Industrial/Black Metal
Latest Album: Hegemony (2017)
Standout Moment(s):
While it has been eight years, now approaching nine, since 2017’s Hegemony, Samael brought something genuinely fresh to the metal seas. “Fresh,” in this case, meant a special double set honoring two landmark albums: 1996’s Passage for the first set, followed by a celebration of 1994’s Ceremony of Opposites for their second appearance, and we caught both performances. The first set felt like a direct continuation of their last voyage in 2018, unfolding as a late-night (3 a.m. or later) Pool Deck performance. It was crushing and chaotic, drenched in flashing strobes, fog, and pure intensity. The second set shifted to a more “basement-level” atmosphere at the infamous Studio B Ice Rink. Captured in darkness with timed strobe lights, the setting captured Samael’s signature black-to-industrial live execution.

Samael – Set 1

Samael – Set 2

Latest Samael News

Closing out 2025 revealed quite a bit about what’s ahead for Samael. First, the band released their first new song in eight years, “Black Matter Manifesto.” They’re also currently working on something special to mark their 40th anniversary in 2027, which will include a new album. As part of that project, the group has asked fans to submit photos or items for possible use in the planned release. You can read their full statement here. While it’s still unclear what this means for additional new music in 2026, it’s safe to say we’ll be hearing more from Samael sooner rather than later. As for live shows, the band has already announced several upcoming festival appearances, including Inferno Fest and Brutal Assault. All currently scheduled shows can be found 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.

70000tons 2026 Lineup 52 out of 60:

Ad Infinitum
Amorphis
Anthrax
Arkona
Beast in Black
Bloodred Hourglass
Cemetery Skyline
Darkane
Dark Tranquillity
Dødheimsgard
Dragonland
Dust Bolt
Eluveitie
Ereb Altor
Firewind
Gama Bomb
Groza
Haggard
Harakiri For The Sky
Heathen
Hiraes
Hirax
Hour of Penance
Ignea
Illdisposed
Illumishade
In Mourning
Insomnium
Izegrim
Kamelot
Kanonenfieber
Orden Ogan
Paradise Lost
Persefone
Rhapsody of Fire
Royal Hunt
Satan
Saturnus
Seven Spires
Skeletal Remains
Skyclad
Soen
Soilwork
Suidakra
Tribulation
Tyr
Vader
VBO
Vio-lence
Wind Rose
Wolf
Xandria