Through Cinematic soundscapes and Progressive arrangements Swanwriter explores tales of horror, history, internal unease and grief in their second full-length, “melodies of despair.” The album arrives alongside a full length visualizer offering.
Project founder Koda shares,
“The album is a collection of psychological horror and gothic horror stories. Musically, the songs are very moody and melancholy, mixing heavy moments with calmer acoustic instrumentation passages. The album was produced with a lot of care and love, so I hope it’s able to touch the hearts of listeners.”
Swanwriter‘s exploration of gore and gloom draws from a wealth of thematic and musical influences, notably “the painted valley” inspired by historical a figure, Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, while the closing track “phobia” follows a personal journey in the aftermath of loss.
Thunderous moments of heaviness reveal the extreme power of Swanwriter‘s compositional style while haunting piano passages and ethereal orchestration intertwine across the track list. With emotion and atmosphere at the heart of “melodies of despair,” the album was designed to be experienced from beginning to end in a single sitting to allow its recurring moods and thematic connections to fully emerge.
Watch the full album visualizer for “melodies of despair” via the YouTube player below:
Swanwriter presents a thoroughly compelling display of light and shade through intricate, considered Progressive instrumental arrangements. Across melodies of despair, Swanwriter balances chaos and calm through explorations of Dark and emotional narratives.
“melodies of despair” was produced and mixed by Koda, mastered by Roland Rodas, and features cover artwork by 無た｡ / muta.
— About Swanwriter —
Swanwriter is a Dark Progressive Metal project based in Vancouver, British Columbia, created and performed entirely by the anonymous multi-instrumentalist known as Koda. Formed in 2023, the project emerged from a desire to merge Progressive Metal songwriting with classical composition, Atmospheric storytelling, and emotionally driven arrangements.
Having studied classical piano from an early age before later discovering Extreme Metal, Koda developed Swanwriter as a space to explore long-form composition without stylistic limitation. The music draws influence from Progressive and Experimental Metal alongside Classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, resulting in compositions that emphasize dynamics, texture, and narrative pacing.
Swanwriter debuted with “There is a darkness” in June 2023, establishing a sound centered on extended song structures, Melodic development, and Cinematic atmosphere. Rather than focusing on technical exhibition, the project prioritizes mood, storytelling, and cohesion across full-length releases.
Themes throughout Swanwriter’s work often intersect with psychological horror, melancholy, and introspection, shaped in part by inspiration from horror games, film soundtracks, and dark ambient music. Each release is approached as a complete artistic statement, with careful attention given to sequencing, emotional progression, and sonic detail.
Operating independently, Swanwriter remains a studio-focused project, with future ambitions that include composing music for horror and narrative-driven media.
Purchase “malodies of despair” on Bandcamp: https://swanwriter.bandcamp.com/album/melodies-of-despair
Tracklist:
01. the painted valley 11:20
02. labyrinth 08:43
03. girl on the wall 07:28
04. waltz of the lost ghosts 03:29
05. betrayal 13:39
06. phobia 12:02