New Jersey-based death metal act Sapremia burst into the underground with their debut demo ‘’ Subconscious Rot (1992), and then followed it up with the aptly titled “Existence of Torture” in 1994. However, they split up before they recorded their debut album. Remastered in 2006 as a compilation Awakening Records has now made ‘’ Subconscious Existence’’ available again, giving it the lavish treatment it deserves.
Strong on substance and thick, dense moments to terrorize the subconscious. Sapremia is pure American Death metal, as exemplified on ‘’ Plague of Minds’’ the throat of Lou Ferrara and his bass provide a lurking, menacing presence that allows the guitars to pile on rhythm after rhythm and has those solos that escape the structure and pierce the ears with their utter contempt for the notion of ‘’normal’’ music.
Combining both demos, “Subconscious Rot” and “Existence of Torture”, into one release allows it to be the album Sapremia never had. Whilst the songs from “Existence..
’’ are stronger and faster, they do not stray from the essence that is Sapremia ‘’ Fragmented Remains’’ captures that Obituary infused sound that is utterly uncompromising and with the punishing ‘’Existence of Torture’’ and unholy’’ Spawn of Desolation’’ they revel in their underground aesthetic celebrating the unnameable and being utterly brutal. The respite to ‘’Dead Eternal’’ is brief, whilst its chaos is without end.
The die was cast. Sapremia provided pure death metal that celebrates the ugly carrying all the hallmarks of the genre, both in terms of speed and slow demise. With substantial atmospheric sections and slow tortuous bridges, Sapremia created death metal that induces pain and creates nightmares.
Sapremia: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: Awakening Records
Category: Re-Issue Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by Sparky
