Riza  by Villagers Of Ioannina City

The Villagers Of Ioannina City, a group from the city of Ioannina in Greece, as their name suggests, released their debut album in 2014 and pleasantly surprised with the sound they offered. The album Riza, which means "root," is a very commendable effort to unite heavy electric guitars with the sound of the clarinet, a characteristic traditional musical instrument of the wider region of Epirus, where the city of Ioannina is located. The band also incorporates in many of its songs polyphonic elements that are also characteristic of their particular homeland.

The band combines stoner rock with the musical tradition of their region in their sound, offering us compositions like Echoes or the adaptation of Jiannim, one of the most well-known and beloved traditional songs in Greece. Riza is actually a fusion record that marries different and disparate musical elements.

The album and its success immediately led the Villagers Of Ioannina City on a tour to many cities in Greece, as well as an appearance at the international rock festival Rockwave. The album was released by Mantra Records.