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EP Review – Subtract – Winning Hearts & Minds

06 Mar 2009 // A review by CEOMong
Shiny yet dirty, like unpolished chrome – a clean sound but with a blunt, dirty, bloody edge. Impressive show by all members, an excellently produced piece of work, balancing all instruments nicely. All tracks around 4 mins long, just long enough I reckon.

There is a serious amount of talent here, for me this is the perfect metal sound, rapid, full, just intelligible gravelly vox, no-one leaving anything to spare. Imaginative CD liner, nice to see something new.

Track 1 – Dirty Paradise – slowly building instrumentals, fast-paced & full-bodied. Gravelly vocals. Dripping with bass and neat little gax bends. Cool intro track, promises a lot for the rest of the album.

Track 2 – Hell - Heavier vox now & deeper bass riffs (if that’s possible). Sweet headbanging track. Epic gax solo around the middle.

Track 3 – Land - keeps the tempo going and steps it up a little more. Bringing the gax back in a bit more and throwing around the short dropping riffs. Power chord heaven!

Track 4 – Fearless Leader - short hitting riffs and solid bass booting down the front door – tweaky & bendy riffs give it a spicy flavour.

Track 5 – Committed - less chaotic to begin with, continues on with deep bass and epic gax action – loving these power riffs and classic axe solos.

Track 6 – Cashing In – short powerful bulldog bites of riffs hook you in, epic and powerful rhythm possesses you, axe chops you up, and vox feasts on the remains. A really powerful track that leaves me wanting more. Rapid and epic, a staunch final track. Fade out at 40 secs to go … only to fade back in at full bore with 10 secs to go. Awesome.

Mine heart & mind are belong to Subtract.
CEO Mong
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About Subtract

Formed during the mid 1990's, Subtract have gone on to become one of the premier acts in New Zealand metal and true forefathers of the local heavy scene. Combining elements of metal old and new, with a penchant for punishing grooves and pummelling rhythms with charismatically aggressive vocals and passionate, meaningful lyricism, Subtract are an act that have gone from strength to strength throughout their years; never relinquishing an iota of the intensity and sheer heaviness that have become their sonic trademarks.

Subtract's debut release, 1998's 'Quench' EP, was a landmark offering in heavy New Zealand music; soaring into a number of key charts including the New Zealand singles charts, the Real Groovy top-sellers and the bFM weekly top 10. The EP also yielded a video clip for the song 'Same Mistake' which enjoyed extensive airplay during the latter part of the last century. During the turn of the millenium, the band released their sophomore effort 'Bloodshot', which further pushed the bands groove-laden soundscape to new extremes while refining their signature heaviness. During this period, the band opened for such legendary acts as Slayer, Ozzy Osbourne, Fear Factory and Helmet.

Mid 2004 saw the long-awaited release of Subtract's first full-length album 'Formula One', which featured re-recorded versions of a number of their EP songs, and a staple of other slabs of pure visceral impact including 'Mark of the Lion', a firm live favourite among the band's hellbent fanbase.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Subtract

Releases

Winning Hearts And Minds
Year: 2009
Type: EP
Formula One
Year: 2004
Type: Album
Bloodshot
Year: 2000
Type: EP
Quench
Year: 1998
Type: Album

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