Greek heavy rock visionaries Villagers Of Ioannina City release new full-length album »Venceremos«; out today via Napalm Records!
Greek heavy rock visionaries Villagers Of Ioannina City are back with their new full-length album, »Venceremos«, which was just released this Friday, September 18th, 2026 via Napalm Records.
Stream »Venceremos« now on all major digital platforms!
Tracklist:
01. Alienation
02. Home
03. Ghosts In The Sky
04. Venceremos
05. The Ruiner
06. No Fear
07. Here And Now
08. Epitaph
09. Requiem
Courtesy of All Noir PR:
On September 18, 2026, Villagers Of Ioannina City return via Napalm Records with »Venceremos«, a bold and immersive studio album that expands the band’s sonic universe beyond its roots. Blending heavy rock, progressive heavy metal and distinct folk elements, the Greek collective deliver their most ambitious and conceptually driven work to date.
The album is drawing remarkable acclaim from the international music press. It has claimed several leading soundcheck positions and Album of the Month honors across Europe, while Villagers Of Ioannina City currently grace the cover of Metal Hammer Greece with an extensive feature on their new chapter.
Photo credit: Eleftheria Kalpenidou
Germany’s Metal Hammer declares that “with their heaviest album to date, the band have also delivered their finest work yet”, while Eclipsed Magazine concludes that there is simply “no way around Villagers Of Ioannina City anymore”. Legacy calls »Venceremos« “outstanding”, while Metal.de describes it as “a modern-day rock opus”. Hungary’s Underworld hails the record as “a post-rock masterpiece”, while Rock Hard praises an album carried by melodies “the likes of which haven’t been heard in psychedelic rock for ages”. Also Deaf Forever Magazine sees a “truly strong album poised to further cement the status of this extraordinary and unique band”, and Norway’s Scream Magazine perhaps puts it most simply: “Their best album of their career so far!”
Set in a dystopian future shaped by illusion, control and fear, »Venceremos« unfolds as a journey through exile, resistance and awakening. It follows those who rise against a broken world, rejecting gods and modern kings in order to reclaim freedom and meaning. Through struggles, hopes, fears and deep reflections on existence, one truth remains constant: the quest is one, and its name is Freedom.
Rather than bending to trends, Villagers Of Ioannina City sharpen their identity. The upcoming album presents itself as heavy, direct and intense, driven by a raw and immediate energy. It leans decisively into heavy rock and metal, pushing into more aggressive territory while unfolding with a genuinely progressive spirit, where each composition evolves with purpose and depth.
Ritualistic rhythms, expansive arrangements and traditional instrumentation such as bagpipes and zourna are not mere embellishments, but essential elements of the band’s sonic language. Folk and Hellenic elements meet powerful riffs and dynamic structures in a sound that feels direct, distinctive and entirely their own.
Songs such as the first single, »Ghosts In The Sky«, introduce this world with energizing intensity, combining heavy driving grooves, layered textures and a cinematic sense of movement. The epic title track »Venceremos« stands at the album’s core, unfolding through dynamic shifts, crystal-clear vocal delivery and a powerful build that captures both tension and release. With »Requiem«, the band present the album’s final chapter: an over seven-minute journey where progressive structures and traditional elements fully unfold, culminating in a liberating, heavy rock anthem of epic scale.
Across the record, the band move seamlessly between meditative passages and eruptive climaxes, balancing restraint and impact. Folk layers are not ornamental, but central to the band’s sonic identity, shaping the emotional weight of each composition.
Produced and recorded by Alex Karametis at Magnanimous X Studio in Greece, and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, »Venceremos« captures clarity and depth in equal measure. With this release, Villagers Of Ioannina City deliver a powerful statement and a journey through darkness, defiance and the unbreakable force of rebellion. As one of the key names in post-stoner and heavy prog rock, the band once again reinforces their place within the scene, with »Venceremos« standing as a defining step in their ongoing evolution.
Order »Venceremos« HERE.
»Venceremos« will be available in the following formats:
• 1CD Digipack
• 2LP Gatefold Black
• 2LP Gatefold Solid White (Limited to 500 Copies, Greece Only)
• 2LP Gatefold Solid Baby Blue (Limited to 500 Copies, Germany/Austria/Switzerland Only)
• Full Digital Album
Napalm Records Webstore:
• 2LP Gatefold Testpressing LP-sized Booklet, Covercard (numbered), Certificate of Authenticity (numbered, dated), Limited to 50 Copies Only
• 2LP Gatefold Circle Translucent Red, Black Vinyl Booklet 20 pages (Limited to 300 Copies)
• 2LP Gatefold Circle Translucent Red, White (Limited to 300 Copies)
Band Store Exclusive:
• 2LP Gatefold Marbled Cristallo Gold Black (Limited to 300 Copies)
• 2LP Gatefold Marbled White Gold Black (Limited to 300 Copies)
In support of »Venceremos«, Villagers Of Ioannina City will play an album release show in Athens taking place on September 20 at the Lycabettus Theatre, one of the city’s most legendary open-air venues, before the band embarks on a series of shows across Greece’s major cities and an extensive European Tour in March 2027 with dates to be announced soon.
Villagers Of Ioannina City are:
Alex Karametis – Vocals, Guitars, Synths
Akis Zois – Bass
Aris Giannopoulos – Drums
Dimitris Brentas – Winds
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well