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Bailey Spinn – Vocals
Guest Musicians:
Lee Jennings (The Funeral Portrait) – Vocals (“pins and needles”)
Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) – Vocals (“long sleeves in the summer”)
Vlado Saric (Melrose Avenue) – Vocals (“paranoid”)
TX2 – Vocals (“silent anymore”)
Release Date: November 13, 2026
Record Label: AWAL
Bailey Spinn has come a long way with her music, and she’s already made quite a name for herself in the rock scene. But if you’re expecting more of the same on her second album, death & devotion, you’re in for a surprise. This time, Bailey ventures into heavier rock and metal territories. And with a few familiar names from the alternative scene joining her on the album, there’s even more to be interested in.
What grabs your attention right from the first listen to death & devotion is how versatile the album is. It opens with a powerful song and keeps the excitement going with brilliant choruses, excellent guitar riffs, and a great mix of aggressive and melodic parts. Bailey also keeps finding ways to surprise us, whether it’s a sudden change in intensity or a song that’s considerably heavier than the one before it. The guest appearances work really well too, adding even more to an already exciting album.
If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.
This is the part where we judge the album by its cover, unironically.
And the artwork for death & devotion works both ways. If you listen to the music first, the cover is just as dark as you’d expect. And if you see the cover first, the music is just as provocative as the artwork suggests. My favorite detail, though, is the connection between the torn angel wings on the cover and the song “pins and needles.” It’s always great when musicians do that.
When “paranoid” starts playing, you might wonder if you’ve accidentally switched to a different album. That’s how heavy its opening is, and that’s exactly what makes death & devotion such a versatile album. “paranoid” is perhaps the best example of that. Add some fantastic riffs, excellent vocals, and a brilliant collaboration with Melrose Avenue to the mix, and you have the strongest track on the album.
While Bailey Spinn has followed the current trend of writing all song titles in lowercase letters (maybe I’m just too old to appreciate this trend), the guitar riffs on death & devotion are heavy in full UPPERCASE. And the music itself isn’t too concerned with following trends either. Yes, the riffs are heavy and brilliant, the switches between calmer, melodic moments and heavier metalcore sections work wonderfully, and the album brings together elements of alternative metal, gothic metal, industrial metal, and even some pop-punk here and there. But what makes the music really impressive is that despite Bailey’s move towards a heavier sound, you can still recognize her signature style, especially in the melodies and how well the music works with the lyrics.
The vocals are another pillar that the greatness of death & devotion rests upon. With all the changes in tempo and style we’ve already talked about, it almost feels like Bailey was challenging her own voice to keep up with the music. And oh, did she emerge victorious! It’s the kind of performance that makes you want to stand up and applaud, especially when you hear how effortlessly she switches between styles, almost touching the grace of Amy Lee one moment and the power of Lzzy Hale the next. Just listen to “critical” or “the best of us” to hear how much power and melody she brings to both songs. And with the guest vocalists adding some excellent screams and growls, the album has even more to offer vocally.
When it comes to the lyrics, death & devotion explores relationships, heartbreak, mental health, and the struggles that come with getting through difficult times. Sure, we’ve heard songs about these subjects countless times before, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to say about them. In “voodoo,” for example, Bailey uses dark magic to describe a toxic relationship, while “the best of us” reminds us that sometimes a few simple words can say more than an entire paragraph. And with the heavier music behind these lyrics, the emotions they carry become even more powerful.
Bailey Spinn has decided to cross the Rubicon with her musical style, creating something huge that I look forward to hearing more of. Bringing the same emotions into a heavier sound, death & devotion is a brilliant album, and hopefully one of many more to come!
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