EXCLUSIVE: Captain Chris O'Brien Shares Treasure (Deets) About DAL's Ambitious Heavy Metal Hellbound Cruise
UPDATE: We have a name and dates!
The cruise is called Hellbound Cruise and will set sail from Sydney for 3 Nights from Thursday Oct 22 to Sunday Oct 25th in 2026
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'Tis a Good Friday indeed as we unwind from the chaos that ensued when Destroy All Lines released a teaser featuring a Cruise Ship alongside Rock The Boat - who are dubbed as Australia's biggest Rock Music Festival At Sea!
The following message was all the provided info given:
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ฌ Something HEAVY is coming. Where Metal Meets the Sea ๐ค
Immediately, everyone's collective minds went racing and we settled on letting the ocean take us aboard a Big Ass Heavy Metal Cruise that's setting sail from our shores in the not too distant future.
In a similar vein to the likes of the US's Shiprocked, Megadeth's MegaCruise and the infamous Headbangers Boat, Australia is set to become the next destination for a cruise ship hosting heavy metal concerts - a venture lacking from our local scene, but already established and beloved by thousands of metalheads worldwide.
Before jumping to further conclusions, we sent a message in a bottle [email] up to Captain Chris O'Brien [DAL General Manager/Promoter] from the confines of our row boat [WoS HQ] to try and squeeze the bounty out of him... Surprisingly he came willingly!
Hey Chris, thanks for taking the time to chat. Destroy All Lines has conquered festivals like Good Things Fest, Knight and Day and Full Tilt ; but this appears to be your most ambitious venture yet... What motivates a move to bring Heavy Metal to the Sea in Australia?
Because it has never been attempted before in Australia and I think itโs important as a company that we are constantly pushing the boundaries.
Finding new ways for our artists and the fans to have incredible experiences they will remember for a lifetime.
For those intrigued by the teaser, can we anticipate the typical metal/punk lineups DAL has drawn upon with previous ventures?
Youโll have to wait and seaโฆ
Ha! Is a 2025 or 2026 maiden voyage more likely?
2026
On top of usual cruise activities like sunbathing, reading and bingo, can we expect instructional classes on how to two-step?
Either that or walk the plank!
Will scallywag kids be allowed or will it be mutiny for anyone under the age of 18?
All that information will be released soon!
Lastly, if the calendar below is a treasure map - when can we anticipate some sort of official announcement?
Within the next fortnight
[Which according to our totally legit treasure map, puts the announcement between April 18th and May 1st]
That's all the treasure [intelligence] we were given before being thrown off the starboard bow, leaving us pondering:
Which bands could be playing? When will it set sail in 2026? And will eating fresh vegetables cure my bout of scurvy?
Time will tell me hearties, but keep your missing eyes and ear on Wall Of Sound's socials for all the updates as they come...
Words by Shanty Man Browny @brownypaul
Note: Amity music video included for the 'let the ocean take me reference' only - no bands have been announced or confirmed yet.
Hellbound Cruise 2026
October 22-25 departing Sydney Harbour
