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' and 'Turkey Shoot', both firm live favourites among the band's hellbent fanbase.
With a line-up change that saw long-time guitarist Harvey Jackson replaced by Evan Short (ex-Concord Dawn, Day One), Subtract have become more focused, more clinical and more downright dirty and heavy than ever before, and have continued to open for such seminal acts in the genre as Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy and Opeth, as well as touring extensively throughout New Zealand and Australia.
'Winning Hearts and Minds' was released on New Years Day 2009, represented the bands strongest and most aspirational material to date, along with a nationwide tour to promote the new offering, and a tour of Australia during the same year, followed by a return visit in 2010 supporting thrash legends Exodus throughout Australasia.
The latest offering from Subtract is due for release later in 2011, entitled 'Talk - Action = Nothing', promises to be another step up in intensity and will be followed by an extensive Australasian tour.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Subtract/47329062931
Subtract is one of the first NZ metal bands I really got into. Up until I discovered them, it seemed like all the NZ metal I came across was more extreme. Their output of thrash/groove metal was more my thing. Over time they've shifted towards a more modern progressive metal sound. Still good, but I'll probably always prefer the early stuff. As it was being a punk fan, I already though Subtract's riffs were complex enough. I particularly like the first song they ever wrote, which at some point they released for free on their website: Reality (I hope they don't mind me linking to that, haha).
