Wacken: Mecca for metalheads

The festival is legendary: Every year in August, the village of Wacken in northern Germany (population 1,800) is turned upside down for Wacken Open Air, the biggest heavy metal music festival in the world.

Rammstein is without a doubt Germany's most famous heavy metal band abroad. This year at Wacken, the rockers teamed up with aging folk singer Heino for a genre-bending and unforgettably hot appearance. Many of Rammstein's faithful fans were critical of their decision to perform with the 74-year-old "Schlager" star.

It takes more than a little rain to dampen the spirits of the scores of long-haired, black-clad revellers who take over the town's fields during the festival.

Black is the color of choice for many festival-goers, but not everyone sticks to the metal dresscode. This fan from 2012 went for something a bit more cheerful.

If crowd surfing were an Olympic Sport, the Wacken fans would certainly be among the medalists. That said, crowd surfing is officially prohibited at the festival.

Fans might want to try the less risky ''kraut surfing'' instead. This slide covered in sauerkraut and red cabbage provided just the right amount of thrills at the Wacken campsite last year.

More than 100 bands and artists take to the stage during the three-day festival. The event's motto is ''Louder than Hell,'' and with the volume getting up to 120 decibels, Wacken sure lives up to its name. Don't worry though, earplugs are sold next to the stage for those who need some relief.

This fan has the obligatory metal greeting down pat. The hand raised with the sign of the horns is a popular gesture in the hardcore scene. Some say the gesture is said to represent Satan's head.

"Wackööööööööööön!" shout the enthusiastic metalheads. After liter upon liter of beer and several sleepless nights, the cry tends to decrease in volume. But the rumble from the stages makes up for any lost decibels.

Tragically, a 52-year-old festival visitor was found dead in his tent on Friday, August 2. It's not Wacken's first such case.The accidental death of a young man cast a shadow over last year's festival as well. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning while lying under a trailer tarpaulin.

Wacken Open Air has continued to grow since the first festival was held in 1990. Over the past 20 years it has become a part of a pilgrimage for hardcore fans from around the world. Have you been to a music festival this summer? Send us a photo at [email protected].