Cacotopia is an independent two-piece progressive black metal band from Loves Park, Illinois (USA). The band members are Randy Bakkelund (guitar, bass, and drum programming) and Matt Swanberg (vocals). In the late 90s, they were a death metal band, then broke up and formed a black metal band called Cacotopia in 2002. It all started with Matt Swanberg and Randy Bakkelund jamming in the basement.
As Cacotopia, they recorded two demos in 2007 and 2009. Their debut album, “Inhuman Agitation,” was released in 2014. Their second album, “Centuries of Bloodshed,” followed in 2018. In 2025, they released their album “Self-Titled.” Their goal is to write the darkest and most evil music they can. They try to put their own stamp on black metal with a lot of musical theory and a willingness to experiment. Almost every song contains guitar solos, which is rather unusual in black metal. The lyrics are predominantly dystopian. They see themselves as a black metal band, but there are also hints of death metal and progressive elements.