Interviews: PlusMinusZero

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Hard Rock/Metal band PlusMinusZero from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. For readers discovering PlusMinusZero for the first time, how would you describe the band’s sound and identity?

PlusMinusZero’s sound is melodic hard rock and metal, rooted in tradition but looking toward the future. We rely on strong songs that can stand the test of time. But ultimately categorizing ourselves is always a bit difficult. We’ve always believed that it’s better to just play the music and let the listeners decide what genre we belong to or what we are. Although PlusMinusZero formed in 2025, the members have decades of musical experience.

2. How did the band come together, and what inspired you to start this new project?

PlusMinusZero first began to take shape in 2024 when we started a journey back to our metal and hard rock roots. For years, we had been making music in the Finnish pop-rock scene, but this time we focused on experimenting, jamming, and creating metal riffs as we had done years earlier. Returning to that distorted wall of sound felt even better than we remembered. The idea gradually grew, and soon we realized we had a collection of new songs but needed a full band to bring them to life and truly enjoy playing again. During that time, we contacted our former bandmates Pete (vocals) and Janne (drums), and bringing them on board was surprisingly easy because we all share the same passion for melodic hard rock and metal. That all came together in 2025, and demo recordings quickly followed. Now, in the summer of 2026, our debut album is almost complete, with only the finishing touches remaining.

3. What inspired the writing of your new single “Touch”, and what does the song represent for the band? 

As a composition, “Touch”—especially its chorus—has been around for quite some time, simply waiting for the right moment to be finalized. The lyrics tell a story inspired by real-life events that took place years ago. In a way, it’s a song that was written across two different stages of our lives. Maybe it was simply easier to put all the pieces together at this point in our lives, with the experience and perspective we have today.

4. The song also shows that we enjoy playing power ballads just as much as more uptempo metal songs. How does “Touch” build upon the foundation you established with your debut single “Wasted”?

“Touch” follows a similar style to “Wasted”, featuring catchy melodies and a traditional hard rock arrangement, while showcasing the band’s ability to deliver a powerful ballad.

5. Your music draws from classic influences like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Dio, Helloween, and Scorpions. What elements of classic heavy music continue to inspire you today?

The timeless nature of the music created by our influences continues to inspire us. A great song remains great regardless of the decade it was written in. We still enjoy seeing these bands perform songs that were composed 40 years ago. Their music is deeply embedded in our DNA, so for example guitar solos—which are rarely heard in today’s mainstream music—feel completely natural and essential to us. The key ingredients are catchy melodies, a strong and tight rhythm section, hard-hitting guitar riffs, and passionate vocals.

6. How do you balance honoring those classic influences while creating a sound that feels fresh and relevant?

We always try to come up with something new and avoid repeating ourselves. We move quite freely within our musical territory and try not to limit ourselves creatively. So we know our sound and the ingredients that define us, which gives us the freedom to bring in new influences as long as they respect that old-school spirit. We’re certainly not immune to new ideas, but the sounds, tones, and little nuances we choose are always rooted in the traditions of the bands that inspired us.

7. Can you walk us through the songwriting process for “Touch”? How did the song develop from the initial idea into the finished track? 

Like many of our songs, it started when Dr. Sundström composed the chorus. In this case, the chorus lyrics also came together naturally and very early in the process, which was unusual for us, as lyrics are typically one of the final pieces to fall into place. The verses were written next, followed by the melodic guitar themes. We decided to keep the arrangement fairly straightforward in order to preserve the song’s impact.

8. The members of PlusMinusZero have previously been involved in albums, tours, radio airplay, and television appearances. How have those experiences shaped the way you approach this band?

These days, we have a good instinct for what works and what doesn’t. Along the way, we also learned what we enjoyed and what we didn’t. We were never the poster-boy type of band—if anything, we were a bit shy—but we always loved doing radio interviews and, above all, playing live. We performed at both small clubs and larger venues. Festivals were amazing experiences, but some of our best memories also come from smaller local shows with a great atmosphere. Appearing on TV was exciting because, back then, it felt like a really big deal. Today, social media has changed everything. Being in front of a camera has become a normal part of being in a band, and that’s something we’ve had to learn and continue to adapt to. Our experience also helps significantly on the production side, allowing us to develop ideas into fully realized songs and albums more efficiently.

9. What does returning to melodic hard rock and metal mean to each of you personally?

It is the foundation for all of us and the reason we started playing our instruments in the first place. Returning to melodic hard rock and metal has also inspired us to revisit the classic albums we grew up with, while discovering newer bands that carry the torch or have brought something fresh to the genre, such as Opeth. At the same time, getting back into metal has meant putting in plenty of practice. We’ve had to sharpen our speed, precision, and playing technique again to do this music the way it deserves to be played. But altogether, in many ways, it feels like coming home again (no pun intended!).

10. How has the Finnish rock and metal scene influenced your sound and songwriting?

We have always been surrounded by Finnish bands, listening to them and interacting with them. The melancholic character found in many of our songs may well stem from Finnish musical traditions.

11. What was the recording process like for “Touch”, and how did working together on production and mixing shape the final result? 

As with our usual recording process, Dr. S first creates a demo, which serves as the foundation for the song. The band then records their individual performances on top of the demo, building the track layer by layer. Everything is recorded as naturally as possible, with the aim of keeping corrections to a minimum. We use a DAW, but approach the process with a tape-era recording mindset. Finally, Dr. S handled the mixing, and the track was mastered by an external company.

12. What was it like partnering with Downfall Records for this release?

The collaboration has been very smooth ever since we started working with them. It’s been easy to discuss the next steps together, and their communication and marketing have been excellent, so we always know what’s coming next. We also work closely together on social media, constantly exchanging ideas about future plans and promotions. So far, we’ve been in complete agreement when it comes to choosing the singles, and we don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t continue. Overall, we’re very happy with how everything has been going.

13. Which bands or artists have had the biggest impact on your musical journey, and why?

1980s heavy metal bands have been the biggest influence on us. However, when it comes to songwriting, all the music we hear leaves some kind of mark. We could name dozens of bands—from AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath to Amorphis and the already mentioned Opeth—and the list would just keep growing. A great song endures, whether it comes from 1960s folk music or 2000s melodic death metal. Sometimes it’s the overall look and attitude; other times it’s a single riff or melody. There’s always something that stays with you.

14. What can fans expect from PlusMinusZero moving forward? More singles, an album, live performances, or something else?

We are currently putting the finishing touches on our third single, which will be released at the end of August 2026. It will be followed by our full-length debut album in September. At the moment, we’re still fine-tuning the album songs in the rehearsal room while continuing the recording process. At the same time, we’re rehearsing for our upcoming live shows. After the album release, we already have a few gigs lined up for the rest of the year. Songwriting will most likely continue alongside everything else. Things have moved incredibly fast for us this year, so after the busy autumn, our main focus will shift to the beginning of next year. Our goal is to play as many live shows as possible, and of course every interview, radio play, and opportunity to reach new listeners is a welcome bonus. We’re enjoying every moment of this journey, but we’re definitely not slowing down. 

15. After years of experience in music, what keeps you excited about creating and sharing new songs? 

It is the thirst to create the best song ever! It has not been done yet...

16. If someone is hearing PlusMinusZero for the first time, what song would you recommend they start with and why? 

Since we have only released two singles so far, we would recommend starting with our debut single, “Wasted”, and then moving on to “Touch”. The upcoming third single will offer something a little different from the first two.

17. Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Breathing The Core Zine?

Thank you for the support! We hope you enjoy listening to our upcoming album as much as we have enjoyed creating it. You can follow us on our social media platforms, and we look forward to seeing you at our future live shows.

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