🎶 Villagers of Ioannina City
🌎Ioannina, Greece
📀Venceremos
® Napalm Records
📅 18/09/2026
The Greek Metal phenomenon of VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY return after seven whole years with a new album that reflects, in the most distinctive way, the era in which it was created. “Venceremos” arrives as the successor to 2019’s career-defining “Age of Aquarius”, yet the world separating these two releases is no longer the same.
A pandemic, economic and social crises, as well as armed conflicts in many parts of the planet, have shaped a very different environment. The philosophical and spiritual concerns that characterized the previous VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY album now give way to a more revolutionary, direct, and aggressive attitude.
“Venceremos” is, above all, a cry of anguish. An invitation, but at the same time a challenge, for resistance and revolution. At its core lies the protection of human freedom and of everything each person considers to be their home.
In this way, the opening instrumental “Alienation” leads us to the album’s first proper song, “Home”, one of the tracks that strongly bears the VIC trademark. Slow-burning, almost ritualistic, slightly psychedelic, and undeniably folk-oriented, it features the familiar bagpipe—or askavlos, to use its Greek name—dominating large sections of this nearly ten-minute-long track. Particularly interesting is the use of lyrics by Giorgos Seferis’ poem “Ο Δικός μας Ήλιος”, a poem in which the sun appears as a symbol of a shared life, while also revolving around pain, death, and human violence. More relevant than ever…!
“Ghosts in the Sky”, the album’s first single, reveals a different side of the band. VIC move away, to some extent, from what we have become accustomed to, presenting a more aggressive and extreme side. Dynamic guitars, a cinematic atmosphere, groove, and subtle electronic elements come together in a track that perhaps represents the VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY of 2026 more than any other. The title track, “Venceremos”, continues to introduce us to this new era of VIC. The heavy guitars are once again prominent, while the folk elements are combined with more modern, progressive touches. As the band themselves have stated, “Venceremos” is an anthem to mental resilience and overcoming fear, so its uplifting and rallying character is both inevitable and essential.
“The Ruiner” opens with an introduction strongly influenced by Celtic music, thanks to the bagpipe. Gradually, the remaining instruments enter and the composition builds towards a powerful outburst, which soon gives way to a more atmospheric first verse. “No Fear” is groovier and more rhythmic, with the drums taking on a leading role and setting the pulse for one of the most progressive moments on “Venceremos”.
Towards the end of the record, we encounter its longest track, the twelve-minute-long “Here And Now”. A multidimensional composition that takes its time to unfold and guide the listener through its different musical layers. The opening minutes move along atmospheric paths, but then, mainly through Alex’s vocal performance, the intensity begins to rise. After the three-minute mark, the pace increases, a distinctive groove emerges, and the composition takes on a clearer stoner character. The climax arrives with one of the album’s finest guitar solos. Despite its considerable length, “Here And Now” never becomes tiresome and is undoubtedly the most multidimensional track on the release.
The album’s final two tracks bring it to a close in a distinctive manner. The instrumental “Epitaph”, a Celtic lament, serves as a prelude to “Requiem”. The bagpipe once again dominates much of this mid-tempo composition. Personally, given the title, I would have expected a darker and more mournful atmosphere. Nevertheless, the track offers another excellent guitar solo shortly before the album comes to an end.
With “Venceremos”, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY demonstrate that songwriting is not an end in itself and that their music does not hide behind contrived gestures. Their sound grows, matures, and follows the climate of the times, reflecting the concerns of the band’s members.
For several years now, VIC have enjoyed an impressive and thoroughly deserved level of hype, which they could easily have exploited commercially by releasing one album after another. Nevertheless, they seem to choose to speak only when they have something meaningful to say, and their musical voice is inextricably linked to their psychological and emotional state. As a result, “Venceremos” is honest, genuine, and ultimately excellent.
★ 9/10
✍🏻 Kostas Boudoukos
