ANNIHILUS MUNDI has released the somber new single, “King of Thorns.” This mournful track comprised of folk melodies, textural instrumental layers, and vocal harmonies is a raw display of anxiety and fear of the unknown. “King of Thorns” is taken from the upcoming full-length, The Dead Sea Scrolls, scheduled for independent release on November 6, 2026.
The primary narrative themes of The Dead Sea Scrolls draw inspiration from and reference Hideaki Anno’s notorious 1995 anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion and the 1997 film The End of Evangelion. “King of Thorns” briefly steps away from the dominant concept of the album to present a more vulnerable offering from composer and lyricist Daniel Saillant.
“‘King of Thorns’ transformed from just a classical guitar riff into a full song in April 2020, initially titled The ‘Banished One'”. Daniel Saillant explains. “There is still a music video on my personal YouTube page of me in my childhood bedroom, singing and playing an early iteration of the first half of the song. This ‘Banished One’ and its music video were created in a few hours on the same day it was published after watching most of the United States flippantly ignore COVID guidelines and restrictions while I remained trapped in my room, trying hard not to lose it.”
Musically, Saillant’s inspiration for “the first half of ‘King of Thorns’ was Pink Floyd’s ‘Money.'” Ensuring that this track is in keeping with the album’s overall theme, Saillant uses the music to portray a soundscape that ties into the setting of events explored in the other tracks, “I have always loved how the cash register samples were used to create a sort of drum beat, so I chose to use a variety of mechanical samples (including a fax machine) to simulate the constant sounds [the character] Shinji is surrounded with.”
The Dead Sea Scrolls explores the personal lived experiences of composer and lyricist Daniel Saillant. In a fusion of genres and artforms, ANNIHILUS MUNDI presents the central concepts through the lens of Hideaki Anno’s notorious 1995 anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion and its subsequent 1997 film The End of Evangelion.
The Dead Sea Scrolls was produced, mixed and mastered, and engineered by Daniel Saillant at Wailing Pines Productions. The album’s artwork was created by Chris at Misanthropic Designs.
About ANNIHILUS MUNDI:
Formed in 2018, ANNIHILUS MUNDI is the creation of Daniel Saillant, blending elements of death metal, shoegaze, and progressive rock. His 2019 debut album Grief and subsequent releases have positioned him as a distinctive voice in the underground metal scene. Inspired by bands such as CYNIC, DEAFHEAVEN, and DREAM THEATER, Saillant continues to push musical boundaries, combining harsh and clean vocals, complex guitar arrangements, and introspective lyrics.
ANNIHILUS MUNDI is:
Daniel Saillant (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programming)
Connect with ANNIHILUS MUNDI:
Bandcamp: https://annihilusmundi.bandcamp.com/music
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annihilusmundi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annihilusmundi/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@annihilusmundi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@annihilusmundi
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/annihilusmundi
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1keHp0ZrVPtDqCcGspP3Xa?si=jUB4r9JRSzqTqB tKJ3RfEg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/annihilus-mundi/1492843855
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annihilusmundi
Discord: https://discord.gg/PKJDYWPrg9
The Dead Sea Scrolls Track List:
1. Second Impact (Overture)
2. Absolute Terror
3. A Hedgehog’s Dilemma
4. The Dead Sea Scrolls, Mvt. I – “Reminiscence”
5. The Dead Sea Scrolls, Mvt. II – “Incursion”
6. Black Moon
7. King of Thorns
8. Terminal Dogma, Mvt. I – “Do you love me?”
9. Terminal Dogma, Mvt. II – “Take care of yourself.”
10. Terminal Dogma, Mvt. III – “Love is destructive.”
11. Terminal Dogma, Mvt. IV – “I need you.”
12. Silent Planet
13. Human Instrumentality