Mike Vennart – formerly of Oceansize and live guitarist for Biffy Clyro – has announced details of his second Vennart album, ‘To Cure a Blizzard Upon a Plastic Sea’ and released a stream of new single ‘Immortal Soldiers’. The record will be released on 14 September through Mike’s Medium Format label and we cannot wait (if you haven’t heard his debut solo album ‘The Demon Joke’, you really are missing out). Teaming up with drummer Denzel and former Oceansize bandmates Steve Durose and Richard ‘Gambler’ Ingram once more, the album finds Mike examining the fine line between mindfulness and madness and looking at ways you can stay sane in the current climate.
‘Immortal Soldiers’ is a song that finds Mike examining the double-edged sword that is playing with action figures with his son. He talks about the joy this brings, but is also fully aware of the damage these plastic toys are doing to the environment – and how they’ll be here for thousands of years after we’re all gone. Its prog-tinged opening has mentions of ‘Captain Fantastic’ and ‘endless rainbows’ before melodically mathy guitars and effects-laden vocals join the fray. Mike sings ‘I’ll piece together all the heroes and the villains’ with angst before the song makes a complete u-turn at 3 minutes and has a carnival music-style breakdown. This only lasts a minute before hair-raising guitars and ferocious drums finish the song with gusto.
If you live near where we live, you’ll be wanting to come and See Vennart at the Westy on 16 August. Book your tickets now!
Vennart plays the following dates:
August
15th Leeds Key Club TICKETS
16th Aldershot West End Centre TICKETS
17th ArcTanGent Festival, Bristol (with Glassjaw and Shellac) TICKETS
November
Mon 19th – Birmingham, Castle & Falcon TICKETS
Tue 20th – The Fleece, Bristol TICKETS
Thu 22nd – London, Tufnell Park Dome TICKETS
Fri 23rd – Manchester, The Deaf Institute TICKETS
Sat 24th – Glasgow, King Tut’s TICKETS
Sun 25th – Newcastle upon Tyne, The Cluny TICKETS
