Villagers of Ioannina City made us wait seven years for „Venceremos”. After that much time, it would have been easy to expect another „Age of Aquarius”. Instead, VIC return with an album that clearly shifts the emphasis. There is less folk this time around, and considerably more rock, more weight, and, at times, a darker atmosphere. The bagpipes remain an important part of the band’s sound, but here they are woven into a much broader palette of guitars, keyboards, and electronics.
Even the first few listens make it clear that this is not an attempt to repeat the success of the previous album. The guitars are given more room, the rhythm section plays with greater force, and the bass often drives the songs forward. As always, Alex Karametis delivers an excellent vocal performance, although this time his voice has to find its place within a more rock-oriented and occasionally much denser environment. Alex also played a larger role in the production and recording of the album, which makes perfect sense considering how extensively VIC have expanded their sound.
„Ghosts in the Sky” was the first single released ahead of the album, and it already made it clear that something had changed. There is more rock momentum, the electronics provide a backdrop for the guitars, and the whole thing is remarkably catchy. At one point, everything drops away except the bass, electronics, drums, and vocals. Then the guitars return, with phrases that even carry a slight Pink Floyd flavor.
„Home”, meanwhile, proves that VIC have not abandoned their distinctive ability to build atmosphere. When I heard the song at their Warsaw show before the album was released, its characteristic rhythm immediately made me think of Tool. It is not even so much about the heaviness as the way the rhythm itself is shaped and carried forward. The song gradually builds, the bagpipes enter, a heavier riff appears, and Alex delivers another excellent vocal performance before the whole arrangement recedes again, leaving space for a recitation by Giorgos Seferis. The Greek poet won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963, and his voice fits the passage remarkably well. It feels like a natural part of the composition rather than an experiment simply grafted onto it.
Moments like these best illustrate what „Venceremos” is about. VIC can still move from a rock riff into psychedelic space, introduce a folk instrument, keyboards, or more experimental textures, and somehow do it without ever sounding chaotic. „The Ruiner” delivers one of the album’s strongest riff-driven moments, while „Here and Now”, although a little too long for my taste, proves that the band can still build tension patiently without sacrificing its rock character.
That shift in sound works well with the story the album is telling. „Venceremos” takes us into a dystopian future shaped by fear, control, and attempts to strip people of their freedom. The title means „we will overcome”, but this is not simply about defeating an enemy. It is more about refusing to surrender, holding on to your personal values, and overcoming your own fear. As a result, the album is noticeably darker than „Age of Aquarius”, but it never loses the qualities that matter most in VIC’s music. The bagpipes, folk influences, psychedelia, and Alex’s distinctive voice are all still here. This time, they are simply surrounded by more guitars and a greater sense of rock-driven energy.
The album closes with „Epitaph” and „Requiem”, which flow seamlessly into one another and bring the entire story to an end on a darker note. It is a fitting conclusion to a record that, rather than giving us another version of „Age of Aquarius”, shows Villagers of Ioannina City continuing to develop their own musical language. „Venceremos” is not a repetition, then. It is another step forward for VIC – more rock-oriented, heavier, and darker, but still unmistakably their own.