Progressive extreme metal project ANNIHILUS MUNDI have unveiled their next single, “A Hedgehog’s Dilemma”. Accompanied by an animated music video, the track provides a further insight into the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, The Dead Sea Scrolls.
“A Hedgehog’s Dilemma” takes its name from the metaphor coined by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and shares the title with an episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion. For Schopenhauer, the inability for hedgehogs to cuddle for warmth without causing each other harm mirrors how individual humans crave intimacy but their own ‘spines’ (trauma, anxieties etc.,) can cause damage in relationships. The song is centered around the protagonist from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji, and the impacts of his social masking that is used as a defensive mechanism.
“‘A Hedgehog’s Dilemma’ is the most deliberately composed song on the album.” Composer and lyricist Daniel Saillant shares. “Since Shinji is a cello player who often finds solace in classical music, the song is composed in the (mostly) historically accurate form of a classical sonata and features an orchestra melody reminiscent of romantic era composers like Tchaikovsky in the place of a traditional chorus.” Compared with the first single release, “Absolute Terror”, “A Hedgehog’s Dilemma takes far more risks with its structure and firmly points the album in a much more progressive and artistic direction.”
Musically, ANNIHILUS MUNDI fuse an amalgamation of styles to produce a deeply emotive and dynamic sonic impact in “A Hedgehog’s Dilemma”. The brutality of ferocious death metal rhythms marries seamlessly with the uplifting melodies incorporated across orchestral arrangements and vocal lines. Segueing between symphonic textures from the orchestral strings to the deafening distortion of guitars and harsh vocals, the intense layers combine to form a highly energizing and compelling track.
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.
“A Hedgehog’s Dilemma” was produced, mixed and mastered, and engineered by Daniel Saillant at Wailing Pines Productions.
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