Today on our blog, an artist has arrived not just with music, but with an entire universe. Meet Codemachia, born from the imaginative mind of author Frédéric Magnin. More than a musical venture, Codemachia is a narrative experience that fuses the grandiosity of cinematic soundtracks with the layered mythos of a sprawling novel. Here, ancient mysticism collides with futuristic cyberpunk, and the result is “Gladius Æternus,” a sonic journey where the orchestra meets the kora, where the duduk sighs over glitching circuitry, and where rebellion pulses through trap-fused electronic textures. At its core, this album is a work of world-building. Each track is a chapter in Yusuf’s journey, etched into melody and rhythm.
The journey opens with “Awakening in the Ashes,” Yusuf’s rebirth amid the ruins of Tombouctou-Ash. Haunting harmonies unfurl like smoke, before orchestral layers ascend, signaling destiny’s call. The music balances fragility and inevitability—an opening scene that immediately feels cinematic, setting the stage for a saga.
A descent into sorrow. Strings tremble like fractured memories, synthesizers sigh in lamentation. “The Well of Tears” captures a sanctuary where loss lingers eternally, and listeners are drawn into Codemachia’s ability to embody grief through sound.
In “The Wall of Lies,” the rebellion sharpens. Rhythms strike like steel on steel, while dissonances fracture the fabric of comfort. It is Yusuf’s defiance against manipulation by HATHOR, and the production crackles with righteous anger.
An instrumental plunge into science fiction. “Astou’s First Fall” strips away orchestral layers and leans heavily into electronic textures, evoking the cold gleam of technology and the fragility of flesh confronting the machine.
In “Dance of Broken Circuits,” the systems revolt. Glitched-out beats stagger forward, industrial rhythms crash and grind. This piece feels alive, as though machinery itself were dancing in rebellion against its makers.
Majestic yet mournful, “Poisoned Victory” finds triumph laced with grief. Orchestration swells to grandeur, but dissonances haunt the edges, leaving victory tasting bitter. It is a reminder that every conquest demands sacrifice.
A hypnotic, shifting piece, laced with mystery. Like shadows twisting in torchlight, the textures of “Shadow Weaver” transform with conspiratorial subtlety. It is one of the album’s most atmospheric compositions, a perfect depiction of unseen forces tugging on destiny.
With “Khartoum Fever,” Codemachia leans into his world fusion prowess. African instruments are digitized, reshaped, and fused with futuristic electronics, creating a feverish landscape of renewal and transformation. This track pulses with energy, grounded in tradition yet ascending into the future.
A deceptive calm. “Hathor’s Lullaby” leans into science-fiction textures, but its softness conceals unease. The lullaby is mechanical, comforting in tone but unsettling in its synthetic heart—perfectly embodying the duality of technology as both caretaker and manipulator.
Moving on to “The Convergence,” the album’s great climax, forces collide, orchestration surges, and electronics roar. The Arena of Whispers becomes a battlefield of destiny. The arrangement grows progressively until it feels overwhelming, then sublime.
“Gladius Æternus” is an instrumental meditation, deepening the project’s themes. Futuristic textures dominate, echoing the brutality and beauty of Codemachia’s world.
Ending with the crowning anthem, “We Are the Glitch,” vocals rise from intimacy to defiance, transforming human vulnerability into a chorus of rebellion. The performance is raw yet resolute, carrying an emotional delivery that mirrors the song’s central theme: error as identity, glitch as freedom. Orchestral waves crash into fractured rhythms, while choirs climb skyward like a rallying cry for the forgotten and the fractured. This is not just the finale; it is a statement of existence, a closing roar that redefines imperfection as power.
What makes “Gladius Æternus” extraordinary is its meticulous production. Every track is sculpted with care — from the organic warmth of traditional instruments like the kora and duduk, to the sharp precision of glitch, trap, and industrial electronic textures. The orchestration is sweeping, cinematic, and alive with detail, yet balanced with modern electronic elements that root the album in its cyberpunk aesthetic. Magnin’s world-building is not only literary but deeply sonic, proving that music can tell stories as vividly as words.
Codemachia’s Gladius Æternus is not simply an album — it is an entryway into another world. It is the soundtrack of a mythic future, where rebellion rises in choirs and errors become identity. With “We Are The Glitch” standing tall as its fiery statement, this project offers listeners a rare experience: music that feels like both prophecy and cinema. For those willing to step into its soundscape, Codemachia doesn’t just invite you to listen — it invites you to live the story.
Listen to the “Gladius Æternus” album on Spotify
Follow Codemachia here for more information
