70000TONS OF METAL 2025 – first bands announced

There are your standard Heavy Metal festivals – and then there’s 70000TONS OF METAL. Envision this: Lounging on a Caribbean island, soaking up the sun on a pristine white beach. Later on, you feel the warm wind blowing in your face, now sitting in a hot tub on a giant luxurious cruise ship, in front of The Pool Deck Stage, The World’s Biggest Open Air Structure to Ever Sail the Open Seas. Surrounded by Metal fans from all across the globe (known as the United Nations of Heavy Metal at Sea), you headbang to your favorite band. Sounds perfect? Well, it is. Get ready for 70000TONS OF METAL 2025!

The thirteenth edition of 70000TONS OF METAL will take place from January 30th to February 3rd, departing from Miami, Florida – Cruise Capital of the World – to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and back aboard the Independence of the Seas.
This unique festival will once more see 60 Heavy Metal bands from various subgenres taking the four stages on board, with 3000 metalheads from around the world in attendance. Every band will play twice during the trip, ramping the total amount of shows played up to 120! 70000TONS OF METAL has revealed 12 of the 60 bands for the 2025 lineup:

BENIGHTED
(2 special sets playing the “Carnivore Sublime” album and a “Best Of” set)
CANDLEMASS
(celebrating “40 Years Of Doom”)
DELAIN
EMPEROR
(2 special sets: “In the Nightside Eclipse” and “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk”)
FLOTSAM & JETSAM
(2 special sets: “Doomsday for the Deceiver” and “No Place for Disgrace”)
IN EXTREMO
(2 special “Best Of” Sets as part of their 30th Anniversary Celebration)
KALMAH
(2 special sets playing the “They Will Return” and “Swampsong” albums)
MAJESTICA
SAMAEL
(2 special sets playing the “Ceremony of Opposites” and “Passage” albums)
SEPTICFLESH
STRATOVARIUS
(2 special sets playing the “Visions” album and a “Best Of” set)
TANKARD
THE KOVENANT
(2 special sets playing the “Nexus Polaris” album and a “Best Of” set)

Ocho Rios, the festival’s destination, is located on the north coast of Jamaica, known for its picturesque white-sand beaches and stunning landscapes – including the famous and spectacular Dunn’s River Falls, just west of downtown. After two days of the full Heavy Metal experience on board, it’s time to enjoy the shore day with bamboo rafts, Land Rover® and 90-foot yacht tours, experience the adventure of river-tubing down the White River while basking in the warm sunshine, or embark on an adrenaline-pumping downhill bike ride through picturesque limestone valleys. And there’s more: As a 70000TONS OF METAL sailor, you’ll also have the option to visit Bob Marley’s tomb and enjoy a guided tour of his childhood home led by one of his family members – it’s all up to you! And to top it all off, there will also be Artist Escorted Shore Excursions, where you can share unique experiences with your favorite musicians before returning on board to enjoy complimentary fine dining, bars that never close, 24-hour room service, as well as the ship’s many amenities.

In their ongoing efforts to enhance the Heavy Metal Festival Experience for guests and the environment, the festival organizers are once again offering attendees the option to purchase a Carbon Offset when booking their Private Cabin or Single Ticket for 70000TONS OF METAL 2025. The funds contributed through the Carbon Offset Program go to the Greentrippers Improved Cookstoves in Ghana project. Stay tuned for updates and announcements including sales dates by checking out 70000tons.com for and the @70000tons social media channels.

About 70000TONS OF METAL

70000TONS OF METAL is The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise. With ten consecutive sellouts since the inaugural voyage in 2011, this extraordinary and unique floating festival now sails on board some of the largest luxury passenger vessels in the world. Featuring 60 world-class Heavy Metal bands from around the globe performing across four stages, 70000TONS OF METAL is home to The World’s Biggest Open Air Stage Structure to sail the Open Seas. Guests can enjoy the Heavy Metal festival experience of a lifetime with all the benefits that a cruise has to offer: complimentary fine dining, bars that never close, 24-hour room service, as well as the ship’s many amenities. 

All 60 bands on board play twice – and there’s four concert locations on board: A concert hall, the Royal Theater, stands tall with five levels. The Star Lounge offers a more personal and local club-like ambiance. Discover the arena-like vibes at Studio B, the third indoor stage available. Lastly, yet undoubtedly the most remarkable, is the Pool Deck Stage: The World’s Biggest Open Air Stage Structure to Sail the Open Seas. This immense stage is accompanied by bars, pools, and even hot tubs that are integrated into the stage itself, allowing guests to indulge in the unique experience of watching their favorite metal bands while soaking in a hot tub.

This four-day Heavy Metal Music Festival and Caribbean vacation offers 3000 metalheads the amazing opportunity to mingle side-by-side with all of the bands on board. With no VIP areas it truly is like everyone has a backstage pass. Not only do guests have unrestricted festival access to 120+ live performances (all bands play twice), every ticket also includes meet & greets with every band, intimate masterclasses with select musicians and exclusive live & listening premieres. Guests also have full access to the “Jamming in International Waters All Star Jam” – a one-of-a-kind jam session featuring a host of musical virtuosos performing classic metal songs together on stage. 
Sailors also have the special opportunity to explore a Caribbean dream destination with their favorite band members on an “Artist Escorted Shore Excursion”, another 70000TONS OF METAL exclusive.

For more details about 70000TONS OF METAL 2025, including FAQs, vessel amenities and contact information, please visit 70000tons.com

Guests and fans are also invited to join the 70000TONS OF METAL community on The 70000TONS OF METAL Official Forum, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Telegram, and Spotify: @70000tons