05) Kadria with Arion

Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan

While waiting to enter the photo pit to photograph Wind Rose in the Royal Theater, my multi-talented friend and vocalist Kadria (who I know through assisting at Mad With Power Fest, where she manages the stage and also is a stagehand onboard 70000 Tons!) ran into me and informed me that I should make myself present at the Arion show in the Star Lounge, as she would be doing guest vocals on “At The Break of Dawn” (handling the vocal parts performed by Elize Ryd on the recording) at the end of their set. Since I love to support my friends, I worked my way up to the front of the crowd in the middle of their set, cameras in tow. Folks were really cool about letting me shoot around them, and Kadria did an awesome performance with them! That track is my favorite from these Finns, which was an added bonus.

04) Infected Rain at 4 am

Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan

Yet another mind-blowing show at an early hour. I had the pleasure of seeing the Moldovans in Infected Rain and having my mind blown at the energy on a big stage at a festival in Bucharest, Romania, a few years ago, so it was a top priority to catch them again when I found out they would be onboard. However, I know their energy wouldn’t translate well to the dungeon that is the Star Lounge, so I made sure to catch their 4 am set in the Ice Rink. The intensity of Lena Scissiorhands’ stage presence and her and the guitarist’s bounding about hits different when you’re running on caffeine and the hope to capture the moment with your lens. After my time in the photo pit, I went to the seating at the back of the room to take in the spectacle from a wider angle, and the groove of their music put me into a state of suspended reality. The magic that is these early morning sets onboard is something that needs to be experienced to understand!

03) Praise to Odin, IKEA designer

Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan

After sleeping through Nanowar of Steel’s pool deck set and hearing such a decision was a grave mistake, I made it priority number one to attend their set in the Ice Rink. After taking in the first part of their set with a beer in hand, I made my way to the photo pit for the main event – seeing them perform “Valhalleluja,” which tells the story of Odin, who has given up war in favor of designing furniture for famed global flatpack furniture manufacturer IKEA, who “forges shelves with the hammer of Thor.” This is quite close to the truth, as during this song, one of the singers brings out one of Sweden’s finest blue shopping bags, assembles a LACK end table, and hoists it high for the crowd to witness! This, of course, is all being done while the band is worshiping Odin’s latest creations: “KNOPPARP – Ora pro nobis (pray for your kitchen)” and “BESTÅ TV – Ora pro nobis – Bench with doors, black-brown, grey-green”! I had such a cheesy grin on my face, and the only thing I am sad about is not seeing their pool deck set earlier in the week where the assembled table was sent out into the crowd (apparently, they were told to not do this for their second set).  

02) A repeat of the Epica Photo Pit -> Hot Tub Process from 2020

Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan

2020 was my fourth time on 70000Tons, and I had always been intrigued about the hot tubs to the side of the stage but had never made the time to check them out. With Epica being one of my favorite bands, I figured they were the perfect band to try out the unique experience of taking in a show from a big container of human stew. Since I was photographing for Metal Insider on that boat as well, I had to run back to my stateroom to stow my cameras after my time in the photo pit, change, and then head back up for hot tub time. It was one hell of an experience, and I figured 2024 was as good a time as any to optimize the photo pit to hot tub process. I had set my change of clothes and towel out in the room beforehand to reduce the time required to change, and having a stateroom on the 10th deck made the process easier. Upon entry to the hot tub, I was also required to try to ride an inflatable unicorn to gain access (this didn’t go so hot, to be honest!), and enjoyed the rest of the set, beer in hand, with one of my cabin-mates. Epica enjoyed from a hot tub is a premium experience, and I could only wish that it was available more places than exclusively on the original world’s largest Heavy Metal Cruise!