I started Cardigans & Corpsepaint because, despite not looking the part, I’ve always had a deep love for metal—especially black metal and the strange brilliance of avant-garde noise.

I have pretty niche taste and there has to be other people like me. I just like it a certain way and I hate wasting time listening to music that’s been recommended to be – but I dig that you all like what you like. It’s just not my vibe. What do I like? To quote myself on many occasions:

I have broad musical taste and listen to pretty much everything from blackened death metal to black metal.

Jokes aside, I like anything that makes me say “What the fuck did I just listen to”, – that could be anything from raw black metal, death metal or post-black to avant-garde, usually.

This site is my space to write brutally honest reviews without the pretension or gatekeeping that too often comes with the genre. I like it raw, weird, and sometimes uncomfortable—but I also believe in meeting people where they are.

Also, I’m not a fan of a LOT of reviews that are written – you won’t see me write a lot – I’ll try and keep it simple – if you like what I like, then I’ll let you know if something is worth a listen or not, no matter the genre.

Whether you’re a lifelong metalhead or just dipping your toes in the distortion, you’re welcome here.

How did my love for blackmetal start? That’s a long story, because I’m old – maybe I’ll write about it at some point.

What music is my taste you ask? Here’s a sampling of some of my favorites over the last 30 years (I said I was old) most of which I still listen to every once in an while when I’m feeling nostalgic

Deicide – Decide

Gorguts – Obscura

Ved Buens Ende – Written in Waters

Dodheimsgard – 666 International

Summoning – Dol Gordor

Solefald – Neoism

Arcturus – Aspera Hiems Symphonia

Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanus

Dimmu Borgir – Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

Limbonic Art – In Abhorrence Dementia

Gnaw Their Tongues – I Speak the Truth

Igorrr – Savage Sinusoid

Oranssi Pazuzu – Muukalainen Puhuu

Krallice – Dimensional Bleedthrough

And here are some bands I’ve seen live and enjoyed off the top of my head, some going back to 1996. Lol.

Amorphis

Grave

Vader

Morbid Angel

Deceased

Dimmu Borgir

Enslaved

Mortiis

Jungle Rot

Satyricon

Krisiun

Immortal

Mayhem

Immolation

Behemoth

Covenant

Cephalic Carnage

I’m sure I’ve missed some. Hope you enjoy what I’m doing.