The inaugural Barge To Hell - "The World's Most Extreme Metal Cruise" from the creators of 70000 Tons Of Metal - travelled from Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas and then back to Miami, FL from December 3rd to 7th and BraveWords took part in the journey! Check out "Metal" Tim Henderson's Day 2 report below. Day 1 can be read at this this location.

Day 2: Tuesday, December 4th: First Full Day At Sea

One thing to mention is the Barge To Hell organizer’s ingenious idea of having bands play two sets—one heading to our destination (Nassau, Bahamas) and one on the way home—ensuring that you didn’t miss a beat. The actual time it would take this ship to travel to Miami is about six hours and we make the trek in less than four days, casually making our way there and back. And most bands have the opportunity to play once inside (Chorus Line Theater) and once outside (on the Pool Deck stage), which again featured indescribable sound given the fact that we were floating on water. In essence, it’s really just an open air show, with the odd wave making things a little unbalanced at times. But as they say, if you’re a little unbalanced with a cocktail, then everything should even out right? I start the day with the obligatory jog to clear my head from the previous night’s madness. New Sodom drummer Markus “Makka” Freiwald is relaxing in the sun and as I run past I show him the ‘Agent Orange’ song on my Nano that is driving the feet this AM. You can’t make this shit up!

Photo credit: Charlene Tupper

The amps were turned on about 10AM with Dutch legends ARTILLERY, France’s LOUDBLAST and the underrated genius of MORGOTH. I watched the entire set with Tomas Linderg who remarked about how strong Marc Grewe’s vocals were and that he definitely required more sleep before At The Gates’ first set of the cruise later that afternoon. So we revelled in sunshine while some under-rated German death metal attacked. Odium is a classic, so this set hit home hard. Meanwhile people are jumping in and out of the pool and hot tubs with their SLAYER and IRON MAIDEN towels in hand! Members of MAYHEM appear on the pool deck and Tomas leans to my ear and says, “They are the real deal.” And he’s correct… I’m still dealing with the nightmares from both their sets! The ongoing SACRED REICH reunion saw leader Phil Rind in fine form while he guided fans through their catalog of thrashy hits, thanking everyone for supporting a band that barely jams together! The set ended with a Tony Iommi salute via BLACK SABBATH's 'War Pigs'.

Photo credit: Charlene Tupper

Photo credit: Håkon Grav

Pre-dinner performances from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (supporting their new free Megalodon EP) and NAPALM DEATH set the night up with varied delight before MAYHEM’s ritualistic form of black metal had fans either in the circle as we were, or running for cover. Leader Necrobutcher would tell me later on in the cruise that THEY had asked to be on board. The virus is spreading as bands find such escapes invigorating and quite different than your bus-stage-bus-stage-bus-airport routine. SANCTUARY’s set was riddled with SPINAL TAP moments and constant technical problems that they had to cut a song off their set. They would easily make up for it on Day 4, but vocal god Warrel Dane (NEVERMORE) was not pleased. Although Brazilian monsters Sepultura and the godly Swedish grind of GRAVE would appease, it was At The Gates’ set, led by material from the glorious Slaughter Of The Soul, that would reign that evening. This was the most attended show thus far into the cruise, making for a moshing, headbanging experience. If you could pick a top album from ANY of the bands on board, you’d be hard-pressed to beat Slaughter Of The Soul (although many would add Bonded By Blood!). Before the night ended, there was a mad rush to the Chorus Line Theatre (from the pool about a ten-minute walk) where POSSESSED’s Jeff Becerra would hold his sermon, mass domination from the confines of his wheelchair (he’s paralyzed from the waist down following a 1989 shooting). Members of Paradise Lost, At The Gates and Mayhem were front an’ centre—the blasphemous fire of Seven Churches and the Eyes Of Horror EP still burn bright to this day.

Photo credit: Charlene Tupper

Photo credit: Charlene Tupper

Photo credit: Håkon Grav

Barge To Hell Day 3 coming up!