The heavy metal cruise runs from Florida to Jamaica and back, with the likes of Ihsahn, Stratovarius, Decapitated, Hammerfall and others performing to around 3,000 attendees
70000Tons of Metal includes headliners like Ihsahn (also performing with Emperor), Stratovarius and Sepultura (clockwise from top left). Photos: Pelagic Records (Ihsahn), press (Sepultura), Jarmo Katila (Stratovarius)
Veteran metal bands from all over the world are setting sail as part of the upcoming 13th edition of heavy metal cruise 70000Tons of Metal, which takes thousands of metalheads from Miami to Ocho Rios in Jamaica and back from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2025.
Setting foot aboard the massive cruise ship Independence of the Seas for the festival are Norwegian metallers Emperor – frontman Ihsahn and his band will also perform separately – as well as Brazilian metal legends Sepultura (pegged as a Farewell at Sea show), Polish tech-death metallers Decapitated, Finnish power metal veterans Stratovarius, Swedish metallers Hammerfall, German thrash metal band Tankard, Norwegian black metal band Mork, melodic death metallers Kalmah, thrash veterans Flotsam and Jetsam and more.
Among the must-see acts aboard 70000Tons of Metal across four stages and four days include prog metal band Symphony X, Norwegian metallers Arcturus, Swedish doom veterans Candlemass, French brutal death/grind act Benighted, German folk-metallers Subway To Sally, British heavy metal band Onslaught, Greek death metallers Septicflesh, medieval metal band In Extremo, Finnish act Sonata Arctica and more.
Finnish death/doom metal band Swallow The Sun are expected to perform a special set featuring the dance troupe from Ballet Finland on songs off their 2008 EP Plague of Butterflies.
It’s a mix of veteran European metal and American favorites, alongside slightly newer bands who have been championing movements like power metals at the festival. Established in 2011 and running steadily ever since – with the exception of not running in 2021 due to the global pandemic – the festival claims to have drawn metalheads from over 70 nationalities for the at-sea cruise festival experience in past editions.
In addition to having four stages on the ship for two performances by each band on board, the Independence of the Seas will dock in Ocho Rios, Jamaica for one day for off-shore activities in the day on Feb. 1, 2025. The festival offers Artist Escorted Shore Excursions, ranging from members of Tankard taking you through Nine Yard to understand the impact and legacy of reggae legend Bob Marley to snorkeling with members of Delain and river tubing with members of Kalmah, among others.
Every ticket also includes meet and greet access to bands, masterclasses, live and listening premieres from artists aboard. Attendees get to witness an all-star jam session called Jamming in International Waters, featuring a host of musical virtuosos performing metal classics together on stage.
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