Heavy metal and the open sea are about to become an even louder combination. Lamb of God have announced that their Headbangers Boat will cross the Atlantic for the first time in 2028, bringing their travelling metal celebration to Europe and the United Kingdom.
The fifth edition of the event will take place from 27 to 31 May 2028, aboard the Norwegian Jewel, departing from Southampton, England, and sailing to La Coruña, in Spain’s Galicia region.
The first announced line-up features Lamb of God alongside Swiss deathcore outfit Paleface Swiss, Scottish metalcore band Bleed From Within, American heavyweights Kublai Khan TX and Shadows Fall, and British rising force Heriot. More artists are expected to join the bill.
But this will be much more than a series of concerts on a cruise ship: frontman Randy Blythe will take part in an exclusive Q&A session, drummer Art Cruz will get behind the decks for a DJ set, while bassist John Campbell will host a poker tournament.
Metal-themed games, karaoke and other activities will also be part of the experience.
For Lamb of God, the cruise is also a celebration of the band’s own journey.
Formed in Richmond, Virginia, in 1994, they initially performed under the name Burn the Priest, adopting the name Lamb of God in 1999.
Over the years, they have become one of the defining forces of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, blending groove metal, thrash and metalcore.
Albums such as Ashes of the Wake and Sacrament helped establish their international reputation, earning them multiple Grammy nominations.

There is an interesting history behind the idea of taking heavy metal offshore, too: Metal cruises are now an established part of the international scene, with 70000TONS OF METAL, launched in 2011, widely recognised as the pioneer of the large-scale floating metal festival concept.
The attraction is simple but unusual: concerts, artists and fans sharing the same ship, with opportunities to meet musicians away from the stage. 
Lamb of God took inspiration from existing music cruises, including the Megadeth cruise and ShipRocked, before creating their own event.
As Randy Blythe explained in a recent interview, bringing Headbangers Boat to Europe will also make it easier for fans who might otherwise find travelling across the Atlantic too expensive to join the experience. 
After four editions sailing from Miami, the fifth voyage will mark a new chapter for Headbangers Boat. And with four nights of live music, sea views and plenty of opportunities to turn the volume up, May 2028 promises to be anything but a quiet holiday!
More info and tickets on official website
