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DARK SECRETS: Mike vennart - The Real Truth

“It was not possible to get a left-handed Jazzmaster in this country. Fender told me, ‘You might as well be ringing Ibanez – we just don’t make them’”: Mike Vennart on the Squier Strats that are simply unbeatable – and why he hates acoustics

The former Oceansize and long-time Biffy Clyro touring guitarist on his love of off-the-beaten-path six-strings and why you've got to try before you buy

Guitar World

“I think we met with his approval. If I find him haunting me, I’ll know I did something wrong”: Tim Smith left an unfinished Cardiacs album when he died. Five years on, his bandmates released the finished version of LSD

A brother who took over the band, a singer who struggled to keep the secret and a determination to do exactly what their late leader would have wanted led to the end of an 18-year journey

Louder

Mike Vennart records new vocals on unheard material for reissue of Oceansize's Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up

Oceansize's final album, 2010's Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up, to be reissued on triple vinyl in October

Louder

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“Sleep Token are big fans of what we did, and they’re the biggest rock band in the world right now. That means a lot”: From Oceansize to Biffy Clyro and now Cardiacs, Mike Vennart is one of the UK’s greatest under-the-radar guitar talents

With a style somewhere between shred, Slayer and Pavement, Mike Vennart has headlined some of the world’s biggest festivals, played with Dave Lombardo, and now he’s fronting his all-time favorite band. He attempts to make sense of the many twists and turns in his career

Guitar World

Cardiacs announce that their final album, LSD, will be released in September

The late Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith's final album has been completed by his brother Jim, Kavus Torabi, Mike Vennart and more...

Louder

Ace new prog you must hear from Solstice, Vennart, John Lodge, Dim Gray and more in this week's Tracks Of The Week

Cool new proggy sounds you from Lights Of Skadi, Sally Potter, Pearl Handled Revolver and more in Prog's Tracks Of The Week

Louder

“Some people think it’s my most optimistic record… I don’t hear that at all. I don’t feel like a comfortable person any more”: Mike Vennart’s latest album is all about his anger

Forgiveness & The Grain in one aspect of a three-pronged attack used by the former Oceansize fontman to achieve everything he wants to

Louder

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“I send two delays out to an amp each and pan them. You get this glorious wash that makes you feel like you’re on drugs”: With Oceansize, Mike Vennart influenced a generation of progressive guitarists – and he’s not ruling out a reunion

The Empire State Bastard riff-meister and Biffy Clyro guitarist has produced some of his best work with his latest solo album, Forgiveness & The Grain. He breaks down his otherworldly tone secrets, and explains what made The Verve’s Nick McCabe a guitar Jedi – and why the Pro Co Rat…

Guitar World

How Jethro Tull broke America is the cover of the new issue of Prog, on sale now!

Plus Van der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, Devin Townsend, Rick Wakeman, Big Big Train

Louder

“I knew how to play the whole of Misplaced Childhood when I was 12. I can’t bear to listen to it now – it reminds me of being a miserable 12-year-old”: How former Oceansize member Mike Vennart grew up and moved on

The band that made his name was a “troublesome, difficult” experience, but becoming a dad helped him put it all behind him

Louder

Listen to Fractal, the first new Vennart music for four years!

Former Oceansize man Mike Vennart will release brand new album Forgiveness & The Grain in February

Louder

Biffy Clyro, blast-beats and Brexit: how Simon Neil and Mike Vennart made one of the extreme metal albums of the year with Empire State Bastard

Far-right trolls and a shared love for experimental, extreme music helped unite Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil and Mike Vennart in Empire State Bastard

Metal Hammer

Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: 99 Ways To Better Tone!

Also in issue 375! Interviews: Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil & Mike Vennart, Nothing But Thieves, Ultra Q, Saint Agnes, Grace Potter and more! Reviews: New gear from Marshall, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and more. Learn songs by Pink Floyd, Greta Van Fleet and The Killers

Guitar World

"I remember driving round listening to Jane Doe by Converge and being so inspired": How members of Biffy Clyro, Oceansize and Slayer teamed up to make one of 2023's most extreme metal debuts

How Biffy Clyro members Simon Neil and Mike Vennart joined forces to make one of 2023's most extreme metal debuts

Louder

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Metal Hammer

"These songs aren’t written to be your friend, they're written to protect you": supergroup Empire State Bastard want you to join their riot

Members of Biffy Clyro, Slayer, Oceansize and Bitch Falcon have combined to form rock's most exciting new supergroup

Guitar World

Chuck Berry-by-way-of-the-gutter riffs and choppy Strat-isms from Fender's latest signature artist: This week's essential guitar tracks

Must-hear new cuts from Brian Setzer, Steve Lacy, Of Mice & Men, Buck Meek, Bad Wolves and loooads more

Metal Hammer

Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil reveals his initial aim for grindcore side project Empire State Bastard: "No melodies, just f***ing mayhem"

Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil opens up on the thinking behind Empire State Bastard

Metal Hammer

Empire State Bastard share live footage video for Harvest, featuring heroic work from ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo

Relive the excitement of the first ever Empire State Bastard dates with the new video for Harvest

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Metal Hammer

Devin Townsend added as headline act for ArcTanGent

Haken, Aiming For Enrique, OURCODENAMEIS:MILO, Ashenspire, CLT DRP and more added to the bill...

Metal Hammer

Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro has a new extreme metal project, and it just tore London to shreds

Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil's extreme metal side-band Empire State Bastard unleash hell at debut London gig, their third show ever

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