Villagers of Ioannina City (VIC) – 'Age of Aquarius': On new paths!

It was about ten years ago, when the Villagers of Ioannina City (or for short VIC) had started conquering the Greek rock scene. Their venture was a very distinctive mix of traditional, rizitiko, Epirus music, combined with heavy rock. Now, with 'Age of Aquarius', their latest record, they're going against everything we'd gotten used to from them. The record is released by Napalm Records (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

The Heavy Rock offshoot of Epirus music

The VIC certainly created something unique. We ended up saying that, despite the huge differences between them, Heavy Rock music could have some connection to the music of Epirus. There are plenty of elements linking the two. Epirus music itself is heavy, slow in tempo, and harsh, just like the land it came from.

But what was it that made us fall so in love with the band from Ioannina? Is it an innate instinct for Greece's traditional music? It could be. Personally, I believe that behind all these elements, the VIC were showing us that they're exceptional musicians. As for us, we got to know them through their wonderful covers of traditional songs like 'Jiannim', 'Ti kako', 'Zvara'. In a short span of time they managed to grab our attention, not only through their bold covers but through their explosive live performances, during which nothing was left standing!

Their debut album titled 'Riza' was a landmark record for the Greek rock scene and the best way to introduce themselves to a wider audience. It was followed by the EP 'Zvara/Karakolia'.

The covers and Nova

As with anything successful, there were also opposing voices here saying that Villagers of Ioannina City are excellent musicians who simply cover existing songs. Huge mistake. The band's compositional skill was clearly evident, first, from the way they approached the songs they covered. They had, however, already given us a small sneak peek of what they could do with entirely new, original material. 'Nova' was a track in which the VICshowed us their 'teeth'.

The next loud answer came in September 2019, when, after an absence of a few years, the band released their first substantial record, entirely their own composition, 'Age of Aquarius'. A huge shift that makes us reconsider everything we knew about the band.

On the music

In terms of sound and music, there are things that are completely new to the sound of VIC and some that remain constant. 'Age of Aquarius' is a purely rock album. The difference from the band's previous work lies in the fact that the traditional element has retreated quite a bit from the foreground. Now, the traditional instruments are one step further back. They're not absent, though. There are hints (like the clarinet solo on 'For The Innocent’).

Rhythmically the tracks are fairly straightforward. The tempo varies. There are songs that are quite fast and some that are gentler in pace. The track lengths are relatively long. That's perfectly logical. The VIC seem to have taken a risk, trying to fold many genres into their hard rock. On the record there are influences even from reggae and blues/soul music. But the element that stands out the most is psychedelia. A mix of post-elements, with fairly intense guitars. And speaking of guitars, there's a variety of 'creamy' tones with plenty of distortion.

Finally, the vocals (there are also a lot of secondary vocals) are quite atmospheric. They don't lose, however, the characteristics we already knew existed from the band's older work. The main difference now is the entirely English lyrics.

On the subject matter

Regarding the subject matter, I'd like to focus more on the messages behind the record rather than the lyrics themselves. Overall, there's a sense that listening to the music, we're entering a new era. A completely new state. There's something atmospheric about it. Something otherworldly. I'd say that this is exactly the era that Villagers of Ioannina Citythemselves choose to step into. New sound, new compositions, new style.

Editor's Choice: 'Millennium Blues'

I'm focusing on this track as an indication of some of the new elements the VICare trying to bring into their music. The reggae vibe with the blues/soul elements of the track make it quite distinctive. At the same time, the atmospheric sound isn't missing either. Also, the presence of many secondary vocals gives the track a new dimension. The overall aura of the song is somewhat melancholic. And of course, there comes a moment in the track where it kicks into gear impressively!

In conclusion

'Age of Aquarius' is a very important record, both for VICand for us. For the band, its significance has to do with the fact that they made a turn in their musical career. Yes, granted, they continue to champion that dynamic Hard Rock. But, after 'Age of Aquarius', they will never again be 'the band that turns traditional songs into Hard Rock'.

 For all of us who have the chance to listen to the music of VIC, the significance of the record is much greater. Objectively, it's one of the very few records that contains such uniqueness in its composition. And here we also have the paradox it creates. Although it's an entirely new work, quite different from anything we've heard from the band, the VIC keep their unique style intact. In simple terms, there's no way you could mistake it for another band's work, not even for a minute.

The influence of VIC on our traditional music is huge. The band took Greek traditional music off the dusty shelf and turned it into a living organism with a contemporary character. 

In terms of composition, subject matter and aesthetics, 'Age of Aquarius' is very distinctive. The Villagers used the Epirus element that established them, in order to create a sound of their own. The positive thing is that they didn't get carried away by the success of the album 'Riza', so as to try and stick around that same territory in their subsequent compositions. Instead, they experimented and created a record based on their principles but also with plenty of new elements. That's why 'Age of Aquarius', contrary to first impressions, doesn't go against tradition, but reinforces it.