Welcome to the new and exciting world of competitive heavy metal knitting.
Yes, the bizarrely different worlds of riff-crushing and cross-stitching have finally collided in an elite competition where only the strong survive.
12 groups took part in the inaugural event held in Joensuu, Finland last week, with finalists coming from all around the world.
Japanese contenders Giga Body Metal conquered the day, making fellow gladiators from the US, Denmark, Sweden and beyond look like utter fools with their neck-snapping needlework.
As Blabbermouth reports, each group’s performance was rated by a jury according to their attitude, performing skills, and how they managed to capture their audience by “Heavyknittinghood”.
Organisers of the event explain: “Knitting to the rhythm of heavy metal music can be compared to playing air guitar – which is a Finnish way to goof around as well. In heavy metal knitting, the knitter becomes a part of the band, showing their best needlework tricks as the heavy riffs echo on the background.
“The knitter takes part in the jam while their balls of yarn and knitting needles swish through the air.”
What a time to be alive.
Watch footage of the whole thing below.