Festival survival tactics

by Isabella Rolfe

Festivals can be good fun, but they can also be very dangerous.

When you get a crowd of head-banging, stage-diving, and crowd-surfing heavy metal lovers who have indulged in copious amounts of beer, things can get pretty ugly.

If you’re a metalhead and are losing your festival virginity, it’s best you check out our tips on how to have fun without getting killed.

The “wall of death”

The “wall of death” dance is a form of festival dancing where the crowd is split down the middle and on signal they ram into each other.

This may sound like the cool thing to do, however it’s best to stay away from doing anything like this because so many people get involved and you could easily get crushed or even die.

In 2005, at the Pressure Festival in Germany, a 26-year-old man died after sustaining serious head injuries, according to Metal News.

The “wall of death” was performed on stage by Lamb of God and has now become a standard part of their performance.

Heavy metal lovers often get carried away with the music, forgetting the dangers they are putting themselves in.

Crowd-surfing has now been banned at most festivals in Europe because of a major incident in 2000 where nine people died and several more were injured after they were dropped and trampled on at a festival.

If you’re a daredevil and want to have a go, although safety should come first, make sure pockets are zipped up and belongings are secure.

Dress to impress

When it comes to fashion at metal festivals, if you don’t wear band merchandise you’re not a real metal fan.

If you’re not quite sure which band to go with and want to avoid getting beaten by a black-clad metalhead, play it safe with Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica or Motorhead.

These are old classics, which shouldn’t get you any unwanted attention.

Wearing steel toe-capped boots is a must.

Not only will they protect your feet but they may come in handy at night when fending off any drunken metalheads trying to get into your tent – this applies to guys and girls!

Learn the lingo!

You might look like a metal head in your black Iron Maiden T-shirt and long black hair, but apparently it’s all about the language.

Before you head off on your pilgrimage across Europe, make sure you learn the metal lingo.

If you think something is cool, then in metal language its “krieg” or “nekro”.

If a metal band is well respected then you might hear them being called “epically brutal” or “troo”.

As a sign of respect when greeting other metalheads, it’s imperative to say: “Most grymm and metal hails to you”.

Dance like a maniac!

Following refreshment it’s time to get stuck in – this might mean nodding your head from a safe distance or biting the bullet and taking a dive into the mosh pit.

If it’s the latter just be aware of what you’re getting yourself in for.

The mosh pit is supposedly a place to have fun and enjoy the atmosphere.

If a fellow metalhead goes down, you should pick them up immediately and someone will do the same for you (you hope).

Headbanging is also another dangerous type of metal move which involves violently rocking your head backwards and forwards to loud music – at best it will result in a severe case of tousled hair – at worst it can cause serious whiplash and possibly even a stroke.

It might help you blend in with the crowd but it’s certainly not good for your health especially if you have consumed a lot of alcohol.

Drinking beer at festivals might feel like the right thing to do to fit in with the crowd and bring out the inner metalhead in you, but beware of getting too wasted, passing out and being trampled on.

Getting hammered might help forge new relationships, but remember you are normally at a festival for two or three days at the least so try to pace yourself and stay safe!

Metal hand gestures

If you’re still feeling like the odd one out, throw the goat.

Throwing the goat involves folding your two middle fingers down, pointing your index and little finger and sticking your thumb out.

It is also known as throwing the horns, evil fingers, forks, metal fist and let’s not forget the satan salute.

The goat is the traditional sign of the metalhead – use it incorrectly at your peril!