WINTER OF SIN is a Technical / Melodic / Blackened Death Metal band, hailing from Groningen, a province of the Netherlands. "Violence Reigns Supreme" is their third full-length album, following two previous demo releases. The band describes a shift in sound as they evolved, from Melodic Black Metal, to more aggressive and faster Death / Black Metal. This new album features a new drummer and vocalist, and has ten tracks.

"Astral Death Reign Algorithm" is an absolutely ferocious opening track, carried by the agonizing death wails of vocalist Henri Sattler, of the blasphemed old GOD DETHRONED fame. The music is swift and the blast beat drumming abounds.  There is a melodic interlude which adds some depth to the sound, but other than that it is very intense, aggressive Black / Death Metal. "Maelstorm" continues the frenzied pace and vehement onslaught, complete with nifty lead fills and an overall doomy sound. I really like the change of pace second half of the piece.  A new riff ushers in a whole new level of wickedness but with a melodic sensibility.

The title track is a variegated composition that offers a melancholic, hushed interlude that breaks up the brutality of the main riff.  The drumming of Michiel Van Der Picht is especially strong on this track. In addition to his frantic blast beating, he keeps a strong meter even when switching to a regular pace, and with varied fills. "Black Ashes" makes good use of running lead guitar harmonies that swiftly carry some of the main melody. Plucked in the middle of the album is an inconspicuous, soft, instrumental called "Virus", which is a calm in the middle of the storm. "Inheritors of Pain" adds some more layers to the album, being a bit slower in tempo and more intentional in the delivery of the angry, almost beastly sound. The closing track, "Biomechanoid", is a scorching, full on assault.

The album is tightly connected and the music perfectly performed.  In fact the entire band sounds as if they have been together through many albums. Their brand of music has no less intensity and aggression that any of their peers, but they have managed to work in some nice complexities and melodies to their overall product. You won't find another Black / Death Metal band that gels as well as they do, or pushes such an uncompromising sound so thoroughly. In a veritable sea of bands in these genres, WINTER OF SIN's demonic sound stands out.