70000 Tons of Metal is quite the absurd experience; it takes two concepts: metal music, with black shirts, bombasticness, and passionate fans, all mixed on a luxury cruise line, which are usually the antithesis of metal (show tunes and suit jackets in the dining hall!), and puts them together to quite an impressive effect! This year’s journey started in Miami, Florida, and took 3,000 of us to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and back in late January (January 30 – February 3, 2025). One must experience “the boat” in person to see just how well the combination of a Caribbean cruise and the glory of metal can work together, but here, we’ll be giving a rundown of some of the highlights of one of our contributors.
After arriving at the port, getting through security, stopping by our room, chasing down some bags, and completing our muster drill, a few long-time roommates and I did our traditional standing up top and watching the boat leave the port and head out for sea. Once we were out of the canal, I headed down to the Theater Stage for my first set of these four days of metal in international waters.
Kicking things off for me was the amazing Swedes (and a New Yorker!) in Twilight Force. Sweden always brings the delightful cheese (a la Sabaton, Dragonland, Bloodbound, and the list goes on), and Twilight Force, with their Dungeons and Dragons-tinged songs about dragons and quests, is so fitting to kick off the journey! Sound was a bit rough in the theater – vocals were buried, but this is somewhat understandable for the first show in a venue.
Twilight Force (Royal Theater)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Kalmah was one of the few melodic death metal bands on the boat this year. That being the case, I made it a priority to make it down to their set in the Ice Rink. It has been a few years (since 2018, perhaps?) since I last saw them Stateside, so it was great to see the Finns at the top of their game yet again. Also, more bands need to keep their keyboards live.
Kalmah (Ice Rink)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Fittingly, Emperor was scheduled for a 11:15 PM set in the theater, so after Kalmah, I made my way one level and across the ship. Since they’re such a rarity in the US (and after seeing their amazing show in Chicago in 2023), I made a point to catch their whole set. Ihsahn’s vocals are beastly and always make an impression, and the lighting direction for their set was perfect for the mood of the music.
Emperor (Royal Theater)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
First up in the morning of day 2, as well as my first set on the pool stage (the crown jewel of 70000 tons, if you ask me) of this year’s boat, was Trollfest, a delightfully odd folk metal band hailing from Norway. Being one of TWO excellent troll-based and party-heavy folk metal bands onboard this year (Finntroll being the other), keeping them straight was somewhat difficult at times, but this was an excellent way to wake up and get the blood flowing as well as enjoy some class-A people watching with the crowd. The sound was great, and this band’s stage antics are always great.
Trollfest (Pool Deeck)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Hailing from Canada, Lutharo brought their power-tinged melodeath to the Royal Theater just after noon on Day 2. Krista Shipperbottom’s versatile vocals (growls, screams, and cleans!) make this band stand out, and the band’s tightness in general is very impressive. I checked out some of their albums before the cruise, and their live performance hooked me even more intensely than what’s available on record.
Lutharo (Royal Theater)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Keeping things melodic, Majestica, all the way from Sweden, was the next highlight of Day 2. Taking place in the theater, they ripped right into “Power Train,” the title track off their upcoming album bearing the same name. Tommy Johansson, Majestica’s vocalist and lead guitarist, is no stranger to 70000 Tons of Metal, as he spent 2016 to 2024 as guitarist in Sabaton, who were last onboard in 2018. Their live performance caught my attention much harder than what they’ve released thus far, but I’m quite excited based on what “Power Train” sounded like onboard here. This performance has me excited to see them again at Epic Fest as well as at ProgPower USA later this year!
Majestica (Royal Theater)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
After more than sufficient time spent indoors, it was time to head back up topside to the Pool Deck – both for more time in the Sun, as well as for more time with troll-themed folk metal bands. Finntroll took to the stage under blue skies and the driving Sun, and speaking of driving – the crowdsurfers were incessant! Finntroll sounded absolutely orcish during their set, and I was totally there for it, to the point where I worked my way up to the front row after my time in the photo pit! I just feel that folk metal is the perfect fit for open-air sets under the Sun where it’s warm!
Finntroll (Pool Deck)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Needing a bit of a palate cleanse from all of the power and folk metal, I made my way to the theater yet again for one of the most unique and interesting sets of this year’s cruise: Swallow the Sun, bringing their ever-depressing melodic doom metal to the stage with Ballet Finland, delivering a set called “Plague of Butterflies,” a performance exploring themes of individuality, loneliness, and death. I don’t think I’ll ever see a ballet performance backed by a live metal band again, and I think Swallow the Sun’s particular brand of melancholy fits the vibe of a ballet performance perfectly.
Swallow the Sun (Royal Theater)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
After the concentrated dose of Finnish sadness, followed by catching some of the Symphony X theater set, a quick nap, and a meal, I returned to my regularly-scheduled power metal consumption by attending a late-night Unleash the Archers performance on the pool stage. Late-night pool deck shows have a certain magic to them, especially when the bands are high-energy. UtA provides the energy in spades, with Brittney Slayes’ vocals, uh, slaying, as well as doling out the occasional high kick! They played a fairly standard setlist, similar to what they delivered on the Powerwolf tour earlier this year, and as they did then, they finished the set with “Northwest Passage,” a fan favorite that always elicits a sing-along from the crowd!
Unleash the Archers (Pool Deck)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
After a day onshore in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, a dinner with friends, and getting back into the swing of things, Sonata Arctica was my next highlight. I haven’t seen them in YEARS, so getting to see them again was a bit of a nostalgic treat, and yet again, the pool deck stage proves yet again to be a great backdrop for a show. Sonata came with more energy than the last time I saw them, and the setlist was full of classics!
Sonata Arctica (Pool Deck)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
One of the greatest things about 70000 Tons of Metal is the ability to see bands near and dear to your heart TWICE in the span of days without doing something like driving hundreds of miles to catch the next stop on a tour. Twilight Force is one of these select bands for me, so I took the time to catch their 3:00 AM set in the Rink, where among other things, the Sapphire Dragon (as mentioned in “Flight of the Sapphire Dragon”) was tossed out into the crowd in the form of a pool noodle for the crowd to thankfully not destroy (the band humbly requested that the dragon make its way back home after the song)!
Twilight Force (Ice Rink)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
Rolling into Day 4, I woke to catch the second Trollfest set in the Rink, which has to be some of the most fun I had on this year’s cruise. After shooting my three songs, I decided to hop into the crowd with my cameras to document some of the excellent costumes and hijinks taking place in the mosh pit. This lasted until the famed Trollfest Conga Line formed and stretched the width of the rink floor, up into the stands, and out into the lobby outside of the room!
Trollfest (Ice Rink)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
After an afternoon of bouncing around from set to set, I made my way to my last highlight of this year’s cruise – catching Seven Kingdoms in the rink. This Florida-based power metal band makes some great power metal and has been at many festivals I’ve attended or helped with, so it’s always great to have our paths cross once again. I passed on their lounge set due to a conflict, so I was thankful to have a moment to catch at least one! Vocalist Sabrina Cruz is always a joy to hear, and guitarist Camden Cruz is full of boundless energy (and always takes a moment to pose for the camera)!
Seven Kingdoms (Ice Rink)
Photo Credit: Kyle Finlan
I did manage to swing upstairs and attend the Skipper’s Thank You speech. This year, attendees hailed from 81 nations (we could use more of this unity nowadays!) and announced that we will be sailing to Labadee, Haiti, from January 29 – February 2, 2026! This year’s 70000 Tons of Metal was full of friends, metal, Sun, and a welcome break from the midwestern winter and real-life activities!
