Mike Vennart: Last News

Empire State Bastard will be putting on their own festival in Sheffield next month called Bastard Fest.Fresh from a US tour supporting Sleep Token, the supergroup consisting of Biffy Clyro‘s Simon Neil and Oceansize’s Mike Vennart will top the bill, with Bitch Falcon bassist Naomi Macleod and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo in tow.The event will take place at Sheffield’s Corporation on July 13 and features a host of heavyweights from British metal, including Heriot, Conjurer, Pupil Slicer and Sheffield’s own Hidden Mothers. It comes a day after the band’s performance at 2000trees Festival.Tickets will go on sale tomorrow (June 20) via the venue website and See Tickets.Empire State Bastard released their debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’ last year.

Empire State Bastard have shared their vicious new track ‘Tired, Naw?’ – check it out below.The song – the original version of ‘Tired, Aye?’ from 2023 album ‘Rivers Of Heresy‘ – opens with a wall of harsh instrumentals and screeching vocals from Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil.According to a press release, much of the album was written remotely, with Mike Vennart laying down guitar, bass and guide drums before Simon Neil added his vocals.However, with ‘Tired, Aye?’, while Neil added his vocal parts, he also removed everything else bar the drums in the process. Now, ‘Tired, Naw?’ re-introduces the track as Vennart had originally intended it.“We’re delighted to share the fully suited, original version of ‘Tired, Aye?’: ’Tired, Naw?’,” Empire State Bastard shared in a press statement.

Empire State Bastard have announced details of a new UK and European tour. Check out a full list of tour dates below.The blistering project is the side-project of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil, and their touring guitarist Mike Vennart (Oceansize), and the tour will celebrate the release of their upcoming debut album, ‘Rivers Of Heresy’.Set for release on September 1, the album will see the duo team up with Slayer and Testament drummer Dave Lombardo and Bitch Falcon’s bassist Naomi Macleod.Already three songs have been shared from the forthcoming LP.

Empire State Bastard have shared a dystopian video for their recent single ‘The Looming’ – check it out below.The side-project of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil, and their touring guitarist Mike Vennart (Oceansize) will release debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’ on September 1 (pre-order/pre-save here).‘The Looming’ was shared last month as a follow-up to the singles ‘Harvest’ and ‘Stutter’, and its video continues the dystopian themes of the track.Of the video, the band said: “ESB x Mike Bourne. The end is looming!”Watch the video below.Speaking to NME earlier this year, Neil said that ESB were “going for extremity at all costs” while embarking on what he described as a “hideously horrific musical journey”.“Because we play together in Biffy, there’s no point in us doing another project that doesn’t feel miles apart,” he explained.

Empire State Bastard have shared a new single called ‘The Looming’ – listen to it below.The song will serve as the closing track on the group’s debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’, which is due for release on September 1 (pre-order/pre-save here).Following on from the cuts ‘Harvest’ and ‘Stutter’, the latest offering from ESB – the side-project of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil, and their touring guitarist Mike Vennart (Oceansize) – strikes an apocalyptic tone, building in intensity over its almost-seven-minute duration.“They can’t control you/ They can’t control you,” Neil screams midway through over brutal, crunching guitars. “Fuck what they told you/ Fuck what they told you/ Let’s take it over/ Something to live for/ Something to live for.”At the end of the fuzz rock-inspired single, Neil repeats a sinister warning of impending doom from the opening verse: “I’ll never grow old in a graveyard/ Do any little thing that’s not too hard/ The devastation’s looming like Jesus, just like Jesus/ What’s it gonna take to believe us?”In a brief statement, Empire State Bastard said: “The end is nigh! The end is looming! Fuck what they told ya!”Check out the official lyric video for ‘The Looming’ below.Speaking to NME earlier this year, Neil said that ESB were “going for extremity at all costs” while embarking on what he described as a “hideously horrific musical journey”.“Because we play together in Biffy, there’s no point in us doing another project that doesn’t feel miles apart,” he explained.

Empire State Bastard have revealed how former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo got involved with their extreme metal band – and why they took him to Greggs.Empire State Bastard is the new extreme metal project created by Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil and former Oceansize frontman Mike Vennart, and features Lombardo on drums alongside Bitch Falcon’s bassist Naomi Macleod.Speaking in a recent interview for NME’s In Conversation series, Neil revealed that the pair spent two weeks talking about drummers who could “play like Dave Lombardo” before one day during the pandemic they said: “Shall we just fucking get Dave Lombardo’s address and email him?”“Within 24 hours he got back and was like, ‘This is fucking great, what are you thinking?’ We’d never even met him, but ended up with this on-the-phone relationship for about a year or so,” Neil continued.“He really understood what we were trying to do with this album and band. He’s so busy and gets approached for a lot of things, but as soon as he came back and said, ‘This is special, I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna play with you and make this record’ – that’s when we went, ‘Right, this is fucking happening.'”“We had to shift into gear, because if Dave Lombardo says it’s a good bunch of songs then you know you’re onto something! We’ve been doing this for two decades, but he makes us want to do it for another two decades,” said Neil.

Empire State Bastard have announced their newest single ‘Stutter’. Check it out below.The band is the latest project from Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and touring guitarist and former Oceansize musician Mike Vennart – who launched back in March with the debut single ‘Harvest’.Enlisting Slayer and Testament drummer Dave Lombardo and Naomi Macleod of Bitch Falcon on bass, the band recently embarked on a sold-out headline tour across the UK and this week announced their debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’.Now, the band have shared their second single, ‘Stutter’.

Empire State Bastard have announced details of their debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’.This new project is the work of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and touring guitarist and former Oceansize musician Mike Vennart, who formally introduced the band with the release of their debut single ‘Harvest’ back in March.The pair are now gearing up to release their debut album ‘Rivers Of Heresy’ on September 1, which, in a press release, has been described as “pure sonic annihilation”.“I set about making the most fucking poisonous vile music I possibly could, just unabridged hatred in musical form,” Vennart is quoted as saying about the record, while Neil added: “Lyrically, it’s as misanthropic and nihilistic as I’ve ever written.”The new record features drumming by Slayer, Testament and Dead Cross drummer Dave Lombardo.

Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil has shared an update on new albums from Marmaduke Duke and Tippie Toes.Back in August 2020, the musician said he said he had four albums lined up with his various musical outfits – Biffy Clyro, Marmaduke Duke, Empire State Bastard and Tippie Toes.Now, the Scottish musician has told NME exactly what stage the new albums are currently at.“Well believe it or not, I did just spend two weeks working on Tippie Toes. We do have an album’s worth of material, we just need to edit it,” he said in a recent In Conversation chat.“I don’t want to be flippant with music and would never put it out because it’s almost ready.

Empire State Bastard have shared a new video for the debut single ‘Harvest’. Check out the footage below.The video arrives following the band’s recent debut headline tour — which featured three dates across the UK and sold out almost instantly.The band was founded by Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and their touring guitarist Mike Vennart, and also enlists Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod.

Empire State Bastard – the side project of Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil – have played their first-ever live gig. Check out fan-captured footage and the full setlist below.The gig took place at the Cathouse venue in Glasgow last night (March 26), and saw the Extreme Metal band perform some of their heaviest hits to date.Founded by Biffy Clyro frontman Neil and former Oceansize guitarist Mike Vennart, the band features the iconic Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Mr Bungle) on the drums, and Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) on the bass.The band opened the show with the first live performance of their debut single, ‘Harvest’, which was released last week.

Empire State Bastard have released their debut single ‘Harvest’ – you can listen to it below.The group, which is the side-project of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and Mike Vennart (Biffy live guitarist, solo artist, and ex-Oceansize singer), teased the track earlier this month after announcing a brief UK tour.“Empires fall, States rise, B*stards sing…it’s Harvest time mother*ckers!” the group said in a statement upon the brutal noise/metal song arriving today (March 24) via Roadrunner Records.Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Fantomas) played drums on the single, and will perform in ESB’s live band alongside Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) on bass.Per a press release, ‘Harvest’ “emerged from the dark recesses of the duo’s mind, inspired by spending downtime during Biffy Clyro tours by sharing the heaviest, most avant-garde or the most sickeningly confrontational music they could find”.In turn, Empire State Bastard ended up with a collection of tunes that “adventurously probes almost every dark crevice imaginable from the myriad sounds of metal and genre-adjacent extremity”.This month will see the band play a trio of intimate sold-out gigs in Glasgow (March 26), Manchester (27) and London (28).

Snow Patrol guitarist Nathan Connolly has launched his solo career with single ‘Fires’ –  featuring Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil.The first single to be taken from Connolly’s debut solo album ‘The Strange Order Of Things’ was co-written by Neil.‘Fires’ features the lyrics “I’m ready for the sunshine, I’m ready for your peace sign, my love – I’m ready for the bass line / I’m ready to be kissed like your room with a spark,” matching the harmonious dual vocals.Connolly began working on his debut album back in 2017 with producer Rocky O’Reilly. The project was completed in early 2021 due to a lockdown-imposed hiatus that paused Snow Patrol’s touring plans.

Empire State Bastard have teased their debut single ‘Harvest’ – listen to a clip below.The band, which is the side project of Biffy Clyro singer and guitarist Simon Neil and Mike Vennart (Biffy Clyro live guitarist, solo artist, and ex-Oceansize frontman), shared the teaser on Instagram today (March 16).In the accompanying caption, they shared that the single would officially be released on March 24, featuring Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Fantomas) on drums.The band previously shared a first teaser of music in February, before going on to announce a spring tour.Empire State Bastard kick the shows off in Glasgow on March 26 at Cathouse before heading to Manchester’s Rebellion on March 27 and London’s The Underworld on March 28. Tickets for shows are available here.A post shared by Empire State Bastard (@esb666_)Elsewhere, the band have announced that they are set to appear at French metal festival Hellfest alongside Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden and Slipknot in Clisson from June 15-18.

Biffy Clyro singer and guitarist Simon Neil and Mike Vennart (Biffy Clyro live guitarist, solo artist, and ex-Oceansize frontman), have announced a spring tour before releasing any music.They will be joined by Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Fantomas) on drums and Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) on bass.Empire State Bastard kick the shows off in Glasgow on March 26 at Cathouse before heading to Manchester’s Rebellion on March 27 and London’s The Underworld on March 28. Tickets for the Glasgow show will be available here from 10am GMT this Friday (March 3) and tickets for the other shows here.Empire State Bastard intimate UK tour 2023:MARCH26 – Glasgow, Cathouse27 – Manchester, Rebellion28 – London, The UnderworldThe news follows the band sharing a first teaser of music last week – listen below.A post shared by Empire State Bastard (@esb666_)Neil previously spoke about the project during an In Conversation video chat with NME, where he said he had four albums lined up with Biffy Clyro, Marmaduke Duke, Empire State Bastard and Tippie Toes.He said at the time: “We’ve got the new Biffy record, Marmaduke Duke’s ‘Death Of The Duke’, then we’ve got Tippie Toes which is a mong-ageddon drone project where you can just take some valium and chill out, and then a grindcore extreme metal album called ‘Empire State Bastard’.

Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil’s new side project Empire State Bastard have shared their first teaser of music.The project, which also includes Biffy’s touring guitarist Mike Vennart, posted a short clip on Instagram today (February 24), which you can listen to below.Neil previously spoke about the project during an In Conversation video chat with NME, where he said he had four albums lined up with Biffy Clyro, Marmaduke Duke, Empire State Bastard and Tippie Toes.He said at the time: “We’ve got the new Biffy record, Marmaduke Duke’s ‘Death Of The Duke’, then we’ve got Tippie Toes which is a mong-ageddon drone project where you can just take some valium and chill out, and then a grindcore extreme metal album called ‘Empire State Bastard’. Honestly, it’s the one thing getting me through not touring – just knowing I can spend the year making new music.”A post shared by Empire State Bastard (@esb666_)Neil continued: “I like putting myself in these positions where I’m like, ‘I should never be doing this, so this is what I’m going to do’.