Kev Rowland When it comes to population NZ rank 123rd largest country in the world, some 101 places distant to the UK (although by land mass we are 76th and the UK are 80th). So there aren’t many people per square kilometer, yet we have some incredible bands that have somehow stayed a secret to the rest of the world. Subtract are one of these, forming in 1997 they have long been at the forefront of the local metal scene and have opened for many of the top international acts who have remembered where NZ actually is on the map. They have honed their skills, turned up their amps and at the end of 2013 released their latest album. Given that 8 Foot Sative have also been active, they knew that they had to produce something very special indeed to show that they were still in the hunt for the title of NZ’s Best Metal Act, and that is exactly what they have done.

Bringing together thrash and melodic death with hardcore and an irrepressible groove, Subtract have yet again shown how they have managed to survive for so long in a country with such a small metal fanbase. This album reeks class from start to finish, is as heavy as hell, and grooves like you wouldn’t believe – extreme metal that gets the listener moving along and banging that noggin as if there was no tomorrow. Who needs Head & Shoulders when there is music like this to clear the dandruff (and any latent ear wax if the truth be told)? This is brutal, melodic, crushing and immense all at the same time. It isn’t the longest album in the world at only 42 minutes, but at least it then gives the listener the chance to go and get a fresh beer, then settle down and put it on again, but just that little bit louder. I am so glad that it is only the sheep that get upset when I play music this loud at home. If Subtract were a British or American band then everyone would know their name, as it is just us Kiwis know who they are, and we know just how lucky that makes us.