Okay, forgive the complicated BS in my list but it's how my mind works. Be thankful ya don't gotta live with it 24/7
The ONE (and only) band that would guarantee my return regardless of other factors is TROUBLE. I know they're technically a repeat but the difference between where they were at on the first 70K with that d-bag korey clark and where they're at now with Kyle Thomas and a killer new album to promote is beyond 'night and day'. I've literally promised myself that I'll do whatever it takes to catch at least one set of their 2014 tour schedule but, if they're booked on the ship, that'll save me having to plan an entire trip around just one of their U.S. shows. So, yeah, please talk to Bruce and make that happen, okay Andy?
Then a couple repeats I've seen onbroad before but wouldn't mind seeing again one bit:
Iced Earth (Stu now as opposed to Matt on 70K mach I)
Annihilator (thought they should become the 70K house band what with Jeff's all-star jam thing looking like a regular recurrence but am I to understand it did NOT happen this past cruise?)
Testament (Chuck Billy should simply be on just to steer the damn ship if he's not performing. And, Raging Waters!!!)
Saxon (Never tire of these guys)
(I won't add Vicious Rumors, Death Angel or Raven as they just sailed with you guys but yeah, great bands I'm always happy to see)
There's actually quite a few more from the first couple cruises I'd love to see again (Forbidden, Sanctuary, Nevermore, Overkill, Grave Digger, Diamond Plate, Raven, Sodom, Exodus, Destruction, Uli, Candlemass, Crowbar to name a bunch) but I'm getting a little carried away with repeats from the first couple sailings.
A few other repeats I wouldn't mind all come from cruises I didn't attend:
Artillery
Metal Church
C.O.C.
Onslaught
Holy Grail
Havok
Bonded by Blood
And, if there's any spots left after all my repeats, this is my wishlist for 2015, any one, ten or thirty-eight of these would do just fine:
Argus
Weedeater
Heathen
Anvil
Cauldron
Sargon
Helmet
Goatsnake
Suicidal Tendencies
Hibrax
Myrath
Nuclear Assault
Revocation
Solace
Accept
Skull FIst
Psychotic Waltz
Satan
Satan's Host
Electric Wizard
Gama Bomb
Sahg
Red Fang
Prong
Omen
Metal Inquisitor
Sloth
Krux
Fates Warning
Acid King
Oz
Loudness
Cathedral
Abadden
Hell
The Sword
Orange Goblin
Or how about one or a couple of new projects thrown together by old, familiar folks and releasing albums soon:
KMX (dUG Pinnick, George Lynch and an ex-Korn drummer)
Red Dragon Cartel (Jake E. Lee)
Okay, so both are a bit more rock than metal maybe but wtf?
And I've no doubt that the entire forum community would get behind a Viathyn (Jacob, Tom & Co.), Gatekeeper/Scythia (Jeff) or a Moth (Rhiawiz) addition not to mention Dead Asylum (Tyler)
Lastly, and Andy, I know you've likely read me going on about this almost every year pre-cruise now but, I'll say it again...
Please, especially now that you have SIXTY slots to fill, PLEASE give a small stage spot to one or more of the following hard-working, heavy young Vancouver bands:
Bison BC
Unleash the Archers
Black Wizard
Dead Asylum (did I mention them already?)
Terrifier
Mendozza
Golers
I know, I don't ask for much
Or, to be more Australian, I think that would be bonza, mate!
