Chicken Man Grows Up: Pig Destroyer, Satyricon, More at Maryland Deathfest

In the middle of Pig Destroyer's ripping, and packed-to-maximum-capacity, set Saturday at Maryland Deathfest's Soundstage, the band paused and called Chicken Man (a well-known fan who has been going to local metal shows incluidng MDF for years, always wearing the same chicken costume, which he apparently has never washed!) to the stage. He proceeded to beckon his girlfriend to join him there. After a moment of confusion — as at first it seemed like she wasn't coming, though it turned out to just be tough to get through the packed house — Chicken Man bent a knee and proposed to his lady love. She said yes, and the couple sealed the proposal by doing a joint stage dive together!

Clearly, between the proposal and sets by Master's Hammer, Helmet, Prong, Sadistic Intent, Satyricon and more across Ram's Head Live and Soundstage, love was in the air ... or something. Regardless, Satyricon's Saturday night appearance at Ram's Head Live marked one of the Norwegians' last-ever U.S. dates, and one of the closing sets of the second to last days at the 2018 festival. Sunday (May 27th) marks the finale of the Baltimore-based event, with appearances from Godflesh, Opera IX, Enemy Soil, Wormrot and more scheduled.

See photos from Saturday's sets below, and check back tomorrow for another gallery from MDF XVI. In addition, look for more pics on our Instagram. All photos courtesy of Josh Sisk.