Space of Variations, metalcore band from the Ukraine, blazes through 2026 with their excellent new record Poisoned Art which comes out February 13th, 2026. From the opening track to the closing track it's the best of the best metalcore has to offer, and their best record. From intense, skull crushing breakdowns to catchy hooks and choruses that get you to sing along, this album has everything a metalcore fan could ever want. I've been a fan of these guys for a while, having seen them for the first time opening for fellow Ukranian metalcore giants, Jinjer, and their energy is off the charts. Clean product, loud riffs, angry vocals, Space of Variation is something special.

Tribe, the opening track, begins with some chanting before the guitars and synths kick in. The screams of Dima Kozhuhur are vicious and angry, shredding through the listeners heart and soul with pure aggression which is mellowed out with the beautiful produced clean singing. I love how it starts heavy then turns a little bit slower before ending in an epic breakdown with screams, riffs, and crazy drumming. One of the very best tracks on the record, Parallel Realities begins with lightly strummed guitar and clean singing until the drums kick in. The production of the song gives a very dream-like presence to it. The screams here are brutal, but it's definitely one of the more accessible tracks on the album; pop sensibilities combined with the heavy aggression meld together to create an unforgettable track. Following that song is Doppelgänger, another one of my favorite songs on the album. I love the rhythm that this song has as well as the pure aggression exhibited throughout most of the entire thing. It's a brutal wall of sound which washes over the listener. It also features interesting synths and an almost hip hop sounding section before Dima comes back in with that anger. There are some more electronic moments on this song that remind me of early 2000s Myspace metalcore where that was very prevalent. Godlike is one of the heaviest songs on the album, brutally assaulting you with intense riffs and drumming until it slows down a little bit for a chorus that soars above the instrumentation. It's a song about searching for meaning in your life, and that's something I think we can all relate to. Everything on the track is layered perfectly; from the instrumentation, to the vocals, to everything else. This song also ends on the biggest breakdown of the record, with Dima's low screams piercing through the listener.

Overall, this album is incredible. It's my favorite album by Space of Variation and contains everything a metalcore fan should love; breakdowns, riffs, catchy choruses, angry vocals, and even some electronic elements sprinkled into it. This band is working at their highest level and I'm excited to see it. I'm excited to see even more from this band going forward. One of the best metalcore bands coming out overseas right now. I loved the record.