Year: 2020
Total Time: 01:05:50
Label: Mantra Records
The fact that our country has a tradition in the hard sound, whether it is called Rock or Metal, is taken as granted, with special recognition inside and outside the borders. The fact that our country also has a rich folk music tradition is something equally if not more indisputable. Epirus is famous for its wonderful music and mourning songs. So when these two genres come together, is it possible that the result is not at least satisfactory? I would say no! And the VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY come to prove that not only the result is satisfactory, but unique and very strong and beautiful.
We met VILLAGERS with their first complete release, “Riza” (meaning “Root” in Greek) in 2014, which showed us that the inspiration and the beautiful ideas that the band carried was overflowing, even through adaptations, such as that of “Jiannim” (a traditional Greek folk song).
So, in 2020, the band presents its new complete work, “Age Of Aquarius”. What do we find here? A sound that moves somewhere between Post Rock, Post Stoner paths, with many Progressive Rock elements, up to Blues passages in “Millennium Blues” and of course the necessary ingredient that binds all these together is the Greek traditional music and traditional instruments such as flutes and bagpipes. Unlike its predecessor, the lyrics here are purely English.
The first single from the album, “Father Sun” is one of the strongest tracks on the album, but not the best. The same-titled “Age Of Aquarius” and “Sparkle Out Of Black Hole” may claim this title, while the solo in “Cosmic Soul” remains in the listener’s memory.
In general, we are talking about a strong and successful release, which will entice you with its beauty and make you want to listen to it again and again. In fact, this release caught the eye of Napalm Records, which rushed to recruit them in its ranks, with whatever this means for the album and for the evolution of the band itself, which I hope will continue at this pace.
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Fanouris Exintavelonis
Related Link: VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY – Facebook Page
