Villagers Of Ioannina City: Age Of Aquarius 2019 + Zvara/Karakolia EP 2014

Villagers of Ioannina City (VIC) is a folk rock band from Ioannina, Greece, formed in 2007. They play

post-, stoner and psychedelic rock with a large dose of Greek folk music from the region of Epirus. They play a kind of post rock with a big dose of Greek folk traditional music from Epirus. The region’s musical tradition is characterized by polyphony and the use of clarinet. The band’s sound fuses traditional music into modern psychedelic forms, creating a unique sound. They have played in a numerous of shows all over Greece in many different venues and festivals.
                                                                             

                                                                        
The regional musical tradition is characterized by polyphony, specific rhythms and tunes, and the use of clarinet, kaval, and bagpipe. The band fuses this unique folk music with modern psychedelic forms, creating a sound where the dominant solo instrument is the clarinet.
                                                                    

They had played in the biggest rock festivals and in numerous sold-out shows in the biggest music scenes in Greece. In their European tours, they performed in many cities such as Berlin, London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona among others.
                                                                   

Villagers of Ioannina City, one of the leading Greek heavy rock bands, comes from the mountains of

Epirus. They are deeply influenced by Greek nature and cosmic phenomena and infuse their unique brand of heavy psychedelic rock with folk instruments such as bagpipes, flutes and, didgeridoo. “Age of Aquarius” is the band's newest effort, courtesy of Mantra Records and released back in September of 2019. It's certainly not an album that deserved to get lost in the cracks, and I feel fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to review it.
                                                                                 

Age of Aquarius is an interesting sum of all sorts of fascinating parts. Comprised of soaring melodies, a

worldly Folk feel sprinkled liberally with Pych-Rock fuzz and reverb.They're deeply influenced with Greek heritage, and incorporate traditional folk instrumentation ( bagpipes, flutes and even didgeridoo) along with their own method of exploring heavy psychedelic rock. Quite distinctive to be sure, and also exceptionally memorable. It's also a really well produced effort, and sonically, incredibly rewarding.
                                                              

The intro track, “Welcome” morphs into the title track and builds with anticipation slowly, perhaps even methodically. But make no mistake, it's also purposefully. These are songs that are crafted, rather than

just played. The song's and indeed, the whole album's title is immensely symbolic. It represents ushering a brand new era of experimentation and creation. “Part V” 's root base, and definitely the breakdown, follows an almost TOOL-ish influence, but never seems reliant upon copying the other band's sound too heavily. That's of important relevance, and is used to the band's and the albums benefit throughout.
                                                                    

Bagpipes in heavy music, while rare, are an incredible addition when used properly. Think AC/DC's “Long Way to The Top…”, and now also “Dance of Night” , “Arrival” as well as “Father Sun” and more. The droning atmosphere of the pipes adds so much substance and sonic texture. It's those little details that make “Age of Aquarius” so memorable and dare I say, magical. It's unexpected, but just seems perfectly placed.
                                                     

But it's not just the instrumentation that's unique, it's also the vocals. Alex deftly applies an almost post punk, Nu Wave tonality throughout, but most notably on “Cosmic Soul”. For some reason, Dave Gahan of DEPECHE MODE kept popping into my head, and on further thought, that's really appropriate. There are elements of that era and music style present on “Age of Aquarius”, and again, like the folk instruments, it absolutely works.
                                                            

VILLAGERS OF IOANNIAN CITY have definitely given it's listeners their monies worth here. “Age of Aquarius” features 10 tracks and clocks in at a whopping 67 minutes in length. I think as an album,

this one is one I'll frequently revisit, and as a result continue to discover different nuances and intentions. All said and done, it's a gift that keeps on giving. Head on over to the band's Bandcamp page for a sample, I recommend “Millennium Blues” for your first taste. Anyway, if you dig it, while there pick up your own copy of preference. Bands really need all the help they can right now with touring ground to a halt. Really well done album. Thanks for the music guys.
A great Band and a awesome album!!!
(METAL TEMPLE)
                                                            

Members

                                                                                      

Alex – guitar, vocals
Akis – bass
Aris – drums
Konstantis – clarinet, kaval, backing vocals
Kostas – bagpipe, winds
Past members: Giannis Haldoupis, Achilleas Radis

Discography

                                                                                         

Promo 2010, April 2010, self-released
Riza ("root" in Greek), April 2014, Mantra Records
Zvara/Karakolia EP, November 2014, Mantra Records
Age of Aquarius, 2019, Mantra Records

                                                                            

Οι Villagers of Ioannina City (γνωστοί επίσης ως VIC) είναι ελληνικό συγκρότημα της πειραματικής

ροκ μουσικής σκηνής από τα Ιωάννινα, το οποίο σχηματίστηκε το 2007 και κυκλοφόρησε το πρώτο του άλμπουμ το 2014, με τίτλο «Riza». Ο ήχος τους αποτελεί συνδυασμό του stoner και ψυχεδελικού rock με την ηπειρώτικη παραδοσιακή μουσική.
                                                          

Οι Villagers of Ioannina City αποτελούνται από τον κιθαρίστα και τραγουδιστή Αλέξη Καραμέτη, τον μπασίστα Άκη Ζώη, τον κιμπορντίστα Αχιλλέα Ράδη, το ντράμερ Άρη Γιαννόπουλο και τον Κωνσταντίνο Πιστιόλη στα πνευστά και τα δεύτερα φωνητικά.
                                                                                

Από το 2009 και έπειτα, συμπεριλήφθηκε στον ήχο τους το κλαρίνο, το οποίο αποτελεί βασικό κομμάτι

και σόλο όργανο του συγκροτήματος. Το 2010 ξεκίνησαν τις ηχογραφήσεις του πρώτου τους άλμπουμ, παράλληλα με τις συνεχείς περιοδείες τους στην Ελλάδα. Τον Μάιο του 2013 έπαιξαν ζωντανά στα Τρίκαλα, στην Λάρισα, στα Ιωάννινα, στην Καβάλα, στο Αγρίνιο και στην Αθήνα, ενώ τον Σεπτέμβριο της ίδιας χρονιάς πραγματοποίησαν τρεις εμφανίσεις στην Αλβανία.
                                                          

Ο πρώτος τους δίσκος με τίτλο «Riza» κυκλοφόρησε στις 3 Απριλίου 2014, στον αριθμό των 500

αντιτύπων σε μορφή δίσκου βινυλίου και άλλων 500 σε μορφή CD. Για την προώθηση του δίσκου, έδωσαν συναυλίες στην Θεσσαλονίκη, την Λάρισα, τον Βόλο, τα Τρίκαλα, την Πάτρα και την Αθήνα, ενώ συμμετείχαν στο Way Of West festival στο Δρέπανο, το Antiracist fest στην Αθήνα, το Rockwave Festival στην Μαλακάσα, κ.α.
                                                                      
Στις 13 Νοεμβρίου 2014, κυκλοφόρησε σε ψηφιακή μορφή το ΕΡ «Zvara​/​Karakolia». Τα δύο κομμάτια του ΕΡ ηχογραφήθηκαν στην Θεσσαλονίκη και στο δεύτερο κομμάτι συμμετείχαν ως γκεστ ο Κώστας Παπαπαναγιώτου στο μπουζούκι, ο Γιώργος Ρήγας στον μπαγλαμά και ο Ευριπίδης Ντιναλέξης στο τζουρά.
                                                                           

Τον Σεπτέμβριο 2019, κυκλοφόρησε ο concept δίσκος τους που έχει τον τίτλο «Age of Aquarius».  

Alex - κιθάρα, φωνητικά
Άκης - μπάσο
Άρης - τύμπανα
Κωνσταντίς - κλαρινέτο, καβάλ, φωνητικά
Κώστας - γκάιντα, άνεμοι
Προηγούμενα μέλη: Γιάννης Χαλδούπης, Αχιλλέας Ράνδης

                                                                               

VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY - AGE OF AQUARIUS  2019

                                                                                  

Villagers Of Ioannina City – Age Of Aquarius
Label: Napalm Records – NPR 939 DP
Genre: Rock, Folk, World
Style: Stoner Rock, Prog Rock
Year: 2019

01. Welcome     2:58
02. Age Of Aquarius     8:43
03. Part V     9:47
04. Dance Of Night     8:33
05. Arrival     1:52
06. Father Sun     8:37
07. Millennium Blues     8:42
08. Cosmic Soul     9:03
09. For The Innocent     5:02
10. Sparkle Out Of Black Hole     2:30

AGE OF AQUARIOUS LYRICS

 

Stay close to the river and cry
And the river's gonna feel you're the god of rain
He's gonna worship you like god and creator for ages
And all the fairies of the forest will come
The wanna so you to the dance of night
This is the Age of Aquarius
(x2)
Hey!

I'm coming out of river
Breathing out, I'm finally reborn

Rain is falling to the shore
Dawn is coming, the night is almost gone

I came from where the Leo is rising
I've travelled through the space for so long
A forest nymph is calling for me
Come along and I will guide where to go

Age of aquarius (x2)

We ran to the mountain
We've found an ancient temple with my name
Then she bowed and said these words
We were waiting here a thousand years for you

Now you must do something
To bring the light
Now you must do something
To change the world

Age of Aquarius
Returning again to mother earth
To set the fire and rain
I'm turning again the circles of time
To bring the sun back again

DANCE OF NIGHT  LYRICS

 

Awe tonight
The birth of new child
Has come back to life

Watch the sky
Planets are alligned
The stars collide

Feel the thunder
That cosmic thunder
Here's the water carrier

Set the pyre
Lift your spirit higher
Dance through the fire

Dancing around

Dance tonight
Spring has arrived
Nature has revived

The Earth is high
Longing for His night
The world has thrived

Dance together
Break that mental tether
Make that one step further

All together
Dance for his arrival
Ride the holy spiral

Dancing around
Moving in circles
Till the point that we reach to the edge of
The age of Aquarius

Singing along
Along with the angels
With all the spirits and animals
Become one with the universe

The Sun has finaly come..
Thats the new beginning
Open your eyes
Embrace the new beginning
Open your eyes

MP3 @ 320 Size: 163 MB
Flac  Size: 459 MB

VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY - ZVARA / KARAKOLIA EP 2014

 

Villagers Of Ioannina City – Zvara​/​Karakolia
Label: Mantra Records
Genre: Rock, Folk, World
Style: Stoner Rock, Prog Rock
Format: EP
Year: Nov 13, 2014

TRAXS

 

A. Zvara   5:31
B. Karakolia   6:54
Baglama – Giorgos Rigas
Bouzouki – Kostas Papapanagiotou
Tzouras – Evripidis Ntinalexis

Notes
Limited to 500 hand numbered copies

MP3 @ 320 Size: 41.1 MB
Flac  Size: 103 MB