Wacken 2017: Memories of the world's biggest metal festival

Making friends on the camping sites surrounding the Wacken festival grounds was easy. Tents and campers are packed in so close that it was almost impossible not to. You might as well sacrifice your personal space during your days at W:O:A.

Harry and Holger drove up all the way from the "Odenwald" in southwestern Germany. Unlike most others, they didn't start the day with beer and fried sausages - but with a healthy breakfast of fresh bread rolls, scrambled eggs and bacon - washed down with a big pot of coffee.

The roof of this camper afforded a view of the complete camping grounds. There weren't any mishaps climbing up there. Grilling, though, could be more perilous. Bad burns are commonplace if people aren't careful with the kerosine. A high alcohol level in the blood is usually part of the problem.

These guys gave their friend a send-off before he tied the knot. His assigned rite of passage was to make a declaration of love to five complete strangers on the W:O:A grounds. The maid of honor (left) recorded everything on a smartphone.

Rebecca, Jonas and Louisa assured us that their mudbath would afford them protection from sunburn - "equivalent to a sunscreen factor of 60 at least," said Jonas. After posing, all three hurled themselves back into the brown masses and even dragged an "innocent" bystander in.

Many pairs of shoes didn't survive the mud. Soles wore out and entire shoes got stuck. Somebody decided to give them a final resting place.

Empty festival grounds in the morning showed the aftermath of the previous rainy day. Before: a green meadow. After: a giant sea of mud, plowed through by tens of thousands of feet. In 2016 a drainage system was installed under the infield. Doesn't seem to have been very effective though.

As evening broke and the top acts performed, the infield was transformed into a sea of waving heads and hands in the air. The big video screens were a blessing for many standing way at the back. Here, the German rock band Accept was joined by a complete symphony orchestra in a metal-classical fusion.

Doro Pesch doesn't miss a season in Wacken. She came this time not with her own band but as a guest vocalist in various acts, including Saturday evening's first concert with the Swedish epic death metal band, Amon Amarth.

A grim expression is just as much a part of metal as loud guitars and headbanging. Clawfinger's bass player André Skaug has both the look and the headbanging down pat. Offstage, his demeanor is friendlier.

Wacken fans know they'll never stay completely dry during the festival. Hardly a W:O:A without at least one good downpour. Armed with capes, the fans party to their bands' music even if inundated.

Pyrotechnics are not only part of the stage acts. In the medieval Wacken Village, fire issues forth from big iron sculptures. The "Wasteland Area," inspired by Mad Max films, is illuminated by ignited special effects. Fire bowls burn even in the backstage and VIP areas, creating the trademark W:O:A look.