Manchester-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Mike Vennart is best-known for his work with psychedelic hipster-repellers Oceansize and schizo chart-botherers Biffy Clyro. His last four albums as ‘Vennart’ (2018’s To Cure A Blizzard Upon A Plastic Sea, 2020’s In The Dead, Dead Wood, 2022’s Backseat Hards, and 2024’s Forgiveness & The Grain) are eclectic to the point of distraction–featuring anthemic riffs, slabs of melody, Mathy ballads, complex pop-rock stompers and, more recently, the kind of aural punishment more associated with Swans.
Vennart’s more-recent foray into the world of extreme metal wasn’t much of a surprise for those who’d been paying attention. The Empire State Bastard record with Dave Lombardo (Slayer/Mr Bungle) and Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) exuded his mathy stink, but was fresh ground in his 20+ year career.
His latest release, “The Familiar,” is a motoring, 16-minute trudge of lysergic, propulsive psych-doom. Incorporating the eastern groove of Gong and the primal sludge of Sunn o))) or Godflesh, “The Familiar” is a full stop to something. It’s out of step with itself, much like the world at large. Where Vennart goes from here, even he doesn’t yet know.
The Familiar” was written years ago, and didn’t fit with the mood of either of the last 2 records. I decided it just needed to stand alone. I don’t think this is where I’m headed, so I need to let it go.
Mike Vennart, 2025
“The Familiar” is also Vennart’s first release to receive a Dolby Atmos mix, courtesy of Steven Wilson. In the world of immersive audio, Wilson needs no introduction. Having remixed dozens of classic albums by the likes of Tears For Fears, Jethro Tull, Yes, XTC, Ultravox, and others in 5.1 surround sound and now Dolby Atmos, his is a household name among audiophiles.
The track begins with different keyboard layers fading in from upfront and behind the listener, quickly joined by a menacing bass synth in the side surround speakers. The rhythm section fills up all seven speakers at ear-level, while additional keys swirl around the height array. At around 1:30, Vennart’s menacing lead guitar from the front left speaker.
After the extended instrumental intro, Vennart’s vocals (“of a thousand years…”) enter from upfront just before the four-minute mark. His voice appears isolated in the center channel, though it also projects out into the side surrounds–yielding a greater sense of depth. A higher-register harmony pops up in the front heights, while a ghoulish pitched-down backing vocal hovers directly behind the listener. The guitar then moves above the listener, suspended between the front left and rear left height speakers.
A guitar solo erupts from the center speaker close to 7:30, with its reverb wildly roving all around the listener. Layered vocal harmonies emanate all around the listener just after the eight-minute mark, followed by distorted rhythm guitars blasting from behind. There’s an especially cool moment at around 9:45, where all the instruments drop out except for the guitars in the rear.
Following a mellower interlude, the distorted guitar slowly circles the room clockwise–giving way to a furious display of heavy riffing at around 11:30. As the intensity builds, a looping guitar drone gradually fades in above the listener and Vennart’s scream moves up to the front height speakers. The rhythm section fades out just before the 14-minute mark, leaving the distorted bass in the side surrounds and synth circling from above. The track ends with the electric guitar slowing moving into the center channel as the signal breaks up.
Overall, the Dolby Atmos mix of “The Familiar” is as chaotic, intense, and powerful as the composition itself, making full use of the spatial format to completely engulf the listener in the song. Though you can stream it on Apple Music and Tidal, we at IAA are thrilled to offer the single as an exclusive immersive digital download through our online shop!
IAA offers immersive digital downloads in the lossless Dolby TrueHD format. While streaming services offer convenience and access to a vast library of music, they also severely compress the audio to save bandwidth. With lossless TrueHD, the inner detail and sonic clarity is much– better preserved for home listeners.
It will be interesting to see if future Vennart releases will become available in spatial audio, or if we’ll be treated to new Dolby Atmos remixes of past albums from his projects like Oceansize and Empire State Bastard. Until then–if you’re a fan of prog-metal and immersive audio, be sure to check out “The Familiar” in Dolby Atmos!
Purchase The Familiar in the IAA Shop!
