For eons, humankind has had a fatal attraction to the sea. The oceans are vast, uncontrollable, and unforgiving. They have snuffed out countless thousands of human lives over the centuries as we would swat pesky flies into oblivion without the slightest thought. And yet, people continue to throw themselves out upon the waters, because the oceans beckon with inexplicable but irresistible power. Perhaps it’s because all life originated in the seas and, at some mitochondrial level, human beings still feel a magnetic pull toward the ancestral home of our single-celled forebearers.
What else can explain why people would shamble forth in single files to board giant floating hotels called cruise ships, to live cheek-by-jowl with complete strangers for some assigned period of time on a watery world that permits no escape?
Granted, the advancement of technology has greatly reduced the risk of ocean-bound catastrophe. People who long for the sea no longer must risk life and limb on board vessels made of little more than oak and tar. Instead, they cross the ocean depths on massive structures of steel guided by precision electronics and powered by engines the size of houses. And yet, and yet, the oceans are still the great leviathans of our planet, and in their realm, we are still as insignificant as insects.
Which brings us, with evil glee, to our latest update about THE 70,000 TONS OF METAL cruise. Since February, we’ve been having fun monitoring the developments of this extravaganza and imagining all that could go wrong. But more than a month has passed since our last update, and with recent announcements from the promoters, it seems like an appropriate time to revisit the subject.
The original goal of the organizers was to set sail in January 2011 on a Caribbean cruise of five days and four nights with a cargo of 40 metal bands and 2,000 metalhead fans. And son of a bitch, they’ve now actually signed 30 of the 40 bands they’re targeting. That’s 8 more bands than the last time we checked. This thing has more than passed the critical mass necessary to make it a reality. There has been nothing like it in the history of metal — and there may be nothing like it ever again. (more after the jump, including the current line-up of bands . . .)
Yes, there are European summer festivals that spread out line-ups of bands this talented and in numbers of this magnitude, though no land-based festivals anywhere else in the world even remotely approach it. But even the European festivals don’t do what 70,000 TONS OF METAL is attempting — to put 40 bands and 2,000 fans in a non-stop party for five days on a ship over open water.
A thousand things could go wrong with this concept, and we’ve had fun imagining some of them in previous posts, but this cruise also has the potential to create an experience for metalheads that nothing else can duplicate. The odds are that many things will go wrong, and many awesome things will happen, too. And whether this cruise turns out to be a one-and-done occurrence or becomes an annual event, it’s increasingly evident that people will be talking about it for years to come — whether bitching, or raving, or both.
Here’s the current line-up of 30 bands, with 10 more to come:
Agent Steel
Amon Amarth
Cripper
Death Angel
Ensiferum
Epica
Exodus
Fear Factory
Finntroll
Forbidden
Gamma Ray
Iced Earth
Korpiklaani
Marduk
Moonspell
Nevermore
Obituary
Rage
Raven
Sanctuary
Saxon
Sodom
Sonata Arctica
Swashbuckle
Testament
Trouble
Týr
Uli Jon Roth
Unleashed
Witchburner
Yeah, it’s a pretty fucking amazing list, with considerable diversity and shitloads of talent. The promoters promise that “since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It’s like everyone has a backstage pass!” We’ll see. If that turns out to be true, and (even better) if some of these bands decide to jam together on stage, all the likely inconveniences and fuck-ups will be well worth it.
Hell, even if none of those things happen, just the chance to spend five days listening non-stop to bands of this caliber will be worthwhile — assuming you’re not claustrophobic, especially prone to seasickness, or deathly afraid of the open sea.
The tour advertises that ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and includes “all on-board entertainment, all meals, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages at the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and 24 room service.” Further details can be found at http://www.70000tons.com/.
17 Responses to “MORE TALENTED METAL BANDS RISK CATASTROPHE AT SEA”
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The lineup’s looking better and better; all other metal cruises are going to pale in comparison to this.
All the interior cabins are booked, as are the double balconies. There are still the superior ocean view cabins and the grand suites. Not sure what the “best rate” category is supposed to be for, though.
If I were not broke, and if I did not hate being on the water, this would be fun!
Yeah, those two things are big hurdles. I’m not claustrophobic, but the idea of being on a ship with 2000 strangers (not counting staff, bands and their crews) isn’t exactly high on my list of things to do.
Right there with you ESJFK. I am claustrophobic and I don’t like being around large groups of people. I do like being on the water, but 2,000 people is 1,900 to many.
I’m one of those nuts who love being on the water (eg, I commute to Seattle by ferry every day), but I’ll be content to see the photos and videos of this excursion when it’s done (and while it’s being done). That’s going to be pretty damned entertaining all by itself. In fact, I’d be shocked if someone doesn’t make a documentary movie about this trip. It would be a huge missed opportunity if that doesn’t happen. It could be like a 2011 version of “Woodstock”, but for headbangers. Entirely apart from the music, there’s bound to be some funny shit to see about shipboard life during those five days. Hell, someone could make a pretty funny movie about nothing more than the one day this cruise stops at Cozumel. I’m still having fun imagining the looks of the natives when that ship vomits out 2,000 metalheads clad in band shirts to invade that island’s sandy shores.
I know, let’s do an NCS cruise. Get some inflatable rafts, duct tape and invite some bands over. If you get Goat The Head, tell them to keep the cube at home.
LMFAO! By the way, I’ve now heard “Doppelgangers”, and it’s all I hoped for and more. Should have a review up tomorrow or Sunday. You’ll be happy to know the album includes a song called “The Ubiquitous Cube”.
You know, it crossed my mind that we may be insane for turning the cube into a running gag. Then again, I’ll take all the blame for that one, even though it’s really the cube’s fault. I’ll see what you have to say in your review before I decide whether to get my cube lovin’ on.
I need to watch the budget (nothing new there), but there are a few albums I’m looking at and I have to choose from them, other than Man-Eating Tree, which I’ve heard in its entirety and am definitely getting. I know they’re not exactly your thing, but they have done a fantastic job with Vine. And I might have missed out on them had it not been for the Miscellany post you put them in.
The running cube gag is possibly the most inspired thing you’ve done on this site! It will never go out of style.
As long as the water’s not more than 5 feet deep, I would consider this cruise…
Provided the Jack flows freely and abundantly….
And this was the the first time I’d heard of Goat the Head. Thank-you!!
You’re welcome! If you haven’t found it already, here’s our earlier post about them:
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2010/07/16/goat-the-head/
Because of their uniquely insane approach to metal, they’ve sort of become the unofficial mascot of this site, but their music is actually damn good.
And btw, I think it’s clear the Jack will be flowing freely and abundantly, or at least until all the drinkers go broke. But I’m afraid the only time that ship will be in 5 feet of water is when it fetches up on some hidden sandbar and all the passengers have to be removed by a flotilla of small shrimp boats.
Well…….I suppose if I’m drunk I probably won’t know the difference, so fuck it…
Count me in!!
And thanks for the link to the original article about Goat the Head!!
Fun time ahead!
That’s amazing !
But these bands sucks
Which ones? All of them?!?
It is indeed truly exquisite how a lot of people disregard (or don’t pay attention absolutely) to Yahoo’s Webmaster Pointers