Ukrainian metalcore outfit Space Of Variations will release their third album, “Poisoned Art,” on the 13th of February. It is a joy to behold, stretching the metalcore genre to its limits with jaw-dropping results.
Opening with “Tribe” a brutal assault on your sense that leaves you in no doubt as to the bands intentions and that is to melt your face, but as brutal as it is, amped more when they switch between English and Ukrainian, they show their vulnerable side when it flips to a mellow ethereal harmonic break before exploding back into life as the track closes, a monster opening. Kicking on from that “Halo” completely blows your mind; a crushing number that is unrelenting opening a heady mix of industrial and metalcore that is a visceral gut punch with a killer rhythm, it changes to a more melodic style just before the midpoint luring you in just to smash you right in the face as it bursts back to life with death metal style vocals and thumping drum beat that is interspersed with a funky electro beat, second track in and a real contender for track of the album.
“Mayday” continues the onslaught, a maelstrom of drums and cutting riffs with a thick bass line running behind it all gives it some serious weight, the vocals are amazing with the screamed predominantly through the verses with the clean at the chorus which gives the track a little bit of light amongst the darkness. “Parallel Realities” takes the melodic side of the previous track and runs with it. While the track is less frantic, it still packs a punch when it blows up, and the heavier, darker side emerges. “Doppelganer” is a banger, from the cool bass line to the slow driving drum beat, the rhythm is inescapable, and when you throw in the unhinged vocals and a dose of techno, you have a killer combination that has no right to be as engaging as it is, a real standout. “Godlike” goes back to the tried and trusted metalcore formulation, not a bad thing, of a powerful opening that gives way to a more melodic, uplifting chorus. When it gets heavy, it really does with a thumping low end and crushing riffs to go alongside the brutally heavy vocals, a cool track. “Ghost Town” is in a similar vein to the last track but leans more toward the aggressive side, packed with monstrous riffs, thunderous drums, and a booming bass line. This is a raw, brutal offering interspersed with short melodic outbursts to lighten the intense mood, a killer track.
The hard and punchy opening of “Coldheaven” gives you plenty to get excited about; with it’s hard and punchy opening that gives way some class melodic meanderings before changing tack completely and going all hip hop before once again changing it up back to the metal beast it is just before it closes, this is one of it not the best track on the album. “Back To Dirt” has a distinct industrial edge to it with an electro beat running under it, the drums drive this one big time while the guitar work is outstanding, vocally the brutal side rules but is tempered slightly by the melodic break midway through, this is a gem of a track as they blend genres with finesse. “Snake Skin” is of a similar vein to “Back To Dirt” in its stylings, but with less of the unclean vocals, focusing more on melodies with a bit more electro, a decent enough track. “Lies” has all the hallmarks of a stadium rocker that will become an anthem for them: killer hooks and an excellent switch-up between the band’s melodic and harsh sides. This will be massive live. The album closes with “Echo”, an atmospheric, trippy electro outro that wraps the album up nicely.
“Poisoned Art” is out on the 13th of February courtesy of Napalm Records and is definitely one to watch out for.
Review: Conor
| 01 – TRIBE | ||
| 02 – HALO | ||
| 03 – MAYDAY | ||
| 04 – PARALLEL REALITIES | ||
| 05 – DOPPELGÄNGER | ||
| 06 – GODLIKE | ||
| 07 – GHOST TOWN | ||
| 08 – COLDHEAVEN | ||
| 09 – BACK TO DIRT | ||
| 10 – SNAKE SKIN | ||
| 11 – LIES | ||
| 12 – ECHO |
Space Of Variations are:
Dmytro Kozhukhar Vocals
Olexksii Zatserkovnyi Guitar, vocals
Anton Kasatkin Bass
Tymofi Kasatkin Drums
SPACE OF VARIATIONS Live 2026
Support for Dymytry Paradox’ “Born From Chaos” Tour:
16.01.26 DE – Stuttgart / Kulturquartier
17.01.26 DE – Cham / L.A.
18.01.26 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch
22.01.26 DE – Berlin / Frannz
23.01.26 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat
30.01.26 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
31.01.26 DE – Cologne / MTC
06.02.26 DE – Essen / Turock
07.02.26 DE – Bremen / Tower
13.02.26 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
14.02.26 DE – Munich / Backstage
15.02.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7
Headline Tour
19.03.26 FR – Nimes / Paloma
20.03.26 FR – Rodez / Le Club
21.03.26 FR – Romans-sur-Isère / La Cordonnerie
25.03.26 FR – Angoulins-sur-Mer / Le Crossroad
26.03.26 FR – Rouen / Fury Defends
28.03.26 FR – Angers / MJC des Hauts de St Aubin
30.03.26 FR – Barberaz / Brin de Zinc
04.04.26 FR – Fontenay-le-Comte / Festival On n’a plus 20 ans
07.04.26 CZ – Prague / Rock Cafe
10.04.26 CZ – Jablunkov / Southock Rock Cafe
11.04.26 AT – Vienna / Core FEST
12.04.26 CH – Zurich / Werk21
15.04.26 PL – Warsaw / VooDoo
16.04.26 SK – Bratislava / Randal
17.04.26 CZ – Brno / Melodka
23.04.26 RO – Arad / Flex
24.04.26 RO – Cluj-Napoca / Flying Circus
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