Worshipper (above) crushed the competition again in Friday’s finals of the Rock & Roll Rumble at Somerville’s Once Ballroom with its heavy, metallic rock, edging out finalists Weakened Friends and wild card usLights to take the 2016 crown.

Not even a second Rumble outing with Craig Small (ex-Waltham) filling in for lead guitarist Alejandro Necochea, who’s on tour with another band in Europe, halted the momentum of Worshipper, whose members boast plenty of Rumble experience. Landing the coveted third slot among the finalists and being followed by kindred hard-rock guests Scissorfight seemed to play in Worshipper’s favor as well.

This year’s Rumble sported a particularly diverse final, rounded out by the grungy indie-rock ebullience of Weakened Friends and electronics-tinged glide of kinetic dream-rock trio usLights in its comfortable and well-attended first year at Cuisine en Locale’s Once room. The annual event, hosted by WZLX DJ Anngelle Wood, began with 26 area bands, including also-impressive contenders like the Devil’s Twins and Abbie Barrett.