Day two of the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise -- sailing from Miami to Nassau, the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas -- delivered memorable performances from Swiss folk metal masters ELUVEITIE and Swedish melodic death metal veterans SOILWORK, as winds reportedly reaching 50 miles per hour battered the ship and added a chaotic element to the outdoor pool deck shows.
ELUVEITIE's high-energy set was a masterclass in folk metal performance. The band's signature hurdy-gurdy-driven anthems and Celtic-infused melodies whipped the crowd into a frenzy that matched the ferocity of the weather outside. Frontman Chrigel Glanzmann led the charge through material spanning the band's entire discography, from early classics like "Inis Mona" to newer material. The inclusion of traditional folk instruments -- hurdy-gurdy, tin whistle, and fiddle -- in a live setting surrounded by the open Caribbean sea created a uniquely atmospheric experience that attendees described as genuinely unforgettable and unlike any other festival performance.
SOILWORK delivered a tightly executed set showcasing their trademark blend of aggression and melody, the dual-guitar attack of Sylvain Coudret and Simon Johansson cutting through the ocean wind with surgical precision. Vocalist Bjorn "Speed" Strid demonstrated why he remains one of melodic death metal's most versatile frontmen, shifting between guttural roars and soaring clean vocals with effortless grace across fan favorites spanning the band's two-decade career.
Other day-two highlights included BEAST IN BLACK, who brought power metal theatrics and synthwave-infused energy to the indoor theater stage, and KAMELOT, whose symphonic grandeur filled the Royal Theater with cinematic drama. Fan-filmed footage is already circulating widely on social media, with attendees calling the 2026 edition one of the strongest lineups in the cruise's 14-year history. Early coverage from Louder Sound praised the festival's ability to maintain intimate, electric performances despite the challenging weather conditions, noting that the chaos of the elements only enhanced the raw energy of the shows.