In a groundbreaking event, Finnish Metal icons SWALLOW THE SUN featuring the Avant-Garde BALLET FINLAND are set to present their collaborative performance, “Plague of Butterflies”, during 70000TONS OF METAL in 2025. This unique performance will make its World Premiere outside of Finland in January 2025, on board The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, with two separate presentations of the work occurring whilst on board. Following each of the two performances of “Plague of Butterflies”, SWALLOW THE SUN will play two different regular sets as well.
“Plague of Butterflies” is a story about loneliness in a world damaged by a plague, and its performance is an innovative, and hypnotic fusion of SWALLOW THE SUN’s evocative Melodic Death/Doom Metal sound with BALLET FINLAND’s contemporary dance. Originally composed in 2008, the piece was intended to be choreographed as a ballet production, and is now 16 years later, finally ready to be brought to the stage after numerous unfortunate setbacks.
Juha Raivio from SWALLOW THE SUN adds: “When I wrote the music for “Plague of Butterflies”, I didn’t know that the story of isolation and loss would come true both in personal life, but also later collectively, as the pandemic closed the world from around us. Now we seem to have come full circle as the piece has been brought to life in a form it was always meant to. Thank you BALLET FINLAND.”
The performance will unfold aboard the cruise ship, creating a singular and immersive experience for attendees, blending live music and dynamic choreography in a setting that has never before hosted such a collaboration – a Heavy Metal Cruise.
After three completely sold-out shows in Helsinki, there has been a high demand for additional performances. As such, the performance of “Plague of Butterflies” in the unusual setting of 70000TONS OF METAL 2025 in the Caribbean sea promises to be a historic and landmark event, merging the energy of Metal with the artistry of ballet in an unprecedented way.
70000TONS OF METAL 2025 will take place January 30 – February 3, and sail from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and back on board the Independence of the Seas. 60 bands, each band performing TWICE – once on the way to Ocho Rios and once on the way back to Miami – so SWALLOW THE SUN featuring BALLET FINLAND can be enjoyed twice!
Bands announced to date include:
ARCTURUS
BENIGHTED
(2 special sets playing the “Carnivore Sublime” album and a “Best Of” set)
BEYOND CREATION
CANDLEMASS
(celebrating “40 Years Of Doom”)
CROWNSHIFT
DECAPITATED
(2 special sets playing the “Nihility” and “Cancer Culture” albums)
DELAIN
EMPEROR
(2 special sets: “In the Nightside Eclipse” and “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk”)
FINNTROLL
(2 special sets: one “Dark Set” focused on the darker repertoire and one “Light Set” focused on the “party” side)
FLOTSAM & JETSAM
(2 special sets: “Doomsday for the Deceiver” and “No Place for Disgrace”)
HAMMERFALL
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
MORK
ONSLAUGHT
(2 special sets playing “Power From Hell” album celebrating its 40th anniversary and the “The Force” album)
SAMAEL
(2 special sets playing the “Ceremony of Opposites” and “Passage” albums)
SEPTICFLESH
SEPULTURA
(Official FAREWELL AT SEA SHOWS)
SONATA ARCTICA
STRATOVARIUS
(2 special sets playing the “Visions” album and a “Best Of” set)
SUBWAY TO SALLY
(2 special sets playing the “Nord Nord Ost” album celebrating its 20th anniversary and an exclusive “Party Best Of” set)
SWALLOW THE SUN feat. BALLET FINLAND
(2 special sets performing “Plague of Butterflies” with BALLET FINLAND, followed by 2 different regular sets)
TANKARD
THE KOVENANT
(2 special sets playing the “Nexus Polaris” album and a “Best Of” set)
THE ZENITH PASSAGE
TROUBLE
(2 special sets playing “The Skull” album celebrating its 40th anniversary and a “Best Of” set)
TWILIGHT FORCE
(2 special sets playing the “Dawn of the Dragonstar” album and a “Best Of” set)
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS
31 more bands will be announced.
1 cruise ship, 60 Metal bands, 4 days, only 3000 tickets. With no VIP areas it truly is li everyone has a backstage pass, making it an incredibly popular event with fans joining from over 70+ countries every year (the organizers proudly call themselves the “United Nations of Heavy Metal at Sea”). Limited tickets remain for the 70000TONS OF METAL 2025 cruise, featuring a lineup of top Metal bands and exclusive performances!
