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Album Reviews : Subtract – Winning Hearts and Minds EP

By on October 7, 2009

Subtract - Winning Hearts and Minds EPNew Zealand was not known, at least not internationally, for its metal scene, until now. Together  with their fellow countrymen 8 Foot Sativa and Dawn of Azazel, Subtract look set to put New Zealand on the metal map.

The machine-gun drumming and riffing at the beginning of Dirty Paradise has a stop-start beat reminiscent of Meshuggah. Many bands that have two guitarists quite often write music that make the need for a second guitarist redundant, and that is often compounded by the lack of guitar solos.

Subtract are certainly NOT one of those bands, with the second guitar going on a tangent and yet the two layers enhance the power of the song overall, or harmonising in a riff. There most certainly is no lack of guitar solos on this record for those who love their solos.

Overall, Winning Hearts and Minds has the groove to make you want to bang your head, and some punk-esque blast beats thrown in here and there that could whip up a frenzied circle pit (uh-oh… The Arthouse will never be the same!).

Beyond simplicity yet not so technical to the extent that you need a Masters Degree in Mathematics to be able to get your head around it, their passion for their art certainly rings true in the music.

For fans of: Pantera, Lamb of God, Trivium

Band: Subtract
Album: Winning Hearts and Minds EP
Year: 2009
Genre: Metal
Origin: Auckland, New Zealand
Label: Katzenjammer Records
www.myspace.com/subtractband

Tracklisting:

Dirty Paradise
Hell
Land
Fearless Leader
Committed
Cashing In
Dirty Paradise video clip*

* Bonus material

Reviewed by: Megan Masters

About

Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.