Establishing the mood with an orchestral strings arrangement, intricate and cinematic, Yugo opens his re-imagining of Waterflame‘s Age Of War (specifically Glorious Morning) with drama and instrumental precision. The opus expands with a fantastical energy and a dimensional riser to explode into an array of astral synths, akin to an EDM come up.
We feel euphoric and appreciate the dynamism of the composition. The rolling drums add a perceived tempo shift before a cerebral hyperpop beat sends us beyond the cosmos, reminding us of the potential of unique sound creation and how expansive music truly can be.
The track reimagines the theme from a childhood game many grew up with, but the full-throttle hardstyle remix that both respects the original and gives it new life feels refreshing! We learn that Yugo revisited the game out of boredom, only to be struck by inspiration.
Yugo confesses, “Producing this track really brought back nostalgic feelings because I used to play the game a lot as a kid. I thought it was awesome to see how I managed to turn a track from my childhood into a modern hardstyle version that brings a lot of energy. And of course, getting the approval from the original composer was definitely a happy moment.”
The official approval from the original composer, Waterflame, as credits on the track adds a warm, full-circle moment to the story. That blessing gives the single a rare authenticity, grounding its explosive sound in something personal and true.
The orchestral elements serve as a nod to Hans Zimmer and Aaron Hibell, and Yugo cites influences including Refuzion, Atmozfears, and Audiotricz, but there is no doubt that the composer is manifesting a universe of his own.
What really stands out is the response. A viral TikTok teaser has already racked up half a million views before release, proving that there is space for this and the appetite for an Age Of War re-imagining is strong! The composition comes full circle with a meditative strings outro, leaving us yearning for more and reaching for the repeat button!
We deeply connect with what Yugo has created, and the justice that he has done for the original – giving it new life in 2025 at a time when the concept feels zeitgeist and etched into the fabric of our reality.
We have added Age Of War to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Yugo, including Stardust, Light, and I Wanna Be.