Spiral (Rezz album)

In 2020, Rezz announced she was working on a new album.{{cite web|last=Morse|first=Ryan|url=https://consciouselectronic.com/2020/08/21/rezz-working-on-third-studio-album/|title= REZZ is working on her third studio album |work=Conscious Electronic|date=21 August 2020|accessdate=6 February 2024}} After releasing her first two studio albums (Mass Manipulation and Certain Kind of Magic) through the Canadian record label mau5trap, Rezz would instead release Spiral through RCA Records. Rezz aimed to have the album "heavily branded visually around hypnosis and a spiral themed production".

On 5 February 2021, Rezz released the single "Sacrificial", a collaboration with Pvris that would appear on Spiral.{{cite web|last=Stone|first=Katie|url=https://edm.com/music-releases/rezz-sacrificial-feat-pvris|title=Rezz Drops Intoxicating New Single "Sacrificial" featuring PVRIS|website=EDM.com|date=5 February 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} In March 2021, Rezz announced the album's completion.{{cite web|last=Heffler|first=Jason|url=https://edm.com/music-releases/rezz-announces-fourth-album-spiral-drops-deathpact-collab|title=REZZ Announces Fourth Album, Drops Filthy Single With Deathpact: Listen|website=EDM.com|date=3 September 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} Following the announcement, Rezz released collaborations with deadmau5 and Dove Cameron, titled "Hypnocurrency" and "Taste of You", respectively. Released on 21 May, the latter was one of the album's singles.{{cite web|last=King|first=Ariel|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/05/rezz-and-dove-cameron-release-highly-anticipated-collaboration-taste-of-you/|title= REZZ continues 2021 tear with Dove Cameron—stream 'Taste of You'|work=Dancing Astronaut|date=21 May 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} A music video for "Taste of You" was also released in June.{{cite web|last=Vitaglianio|first=Joe|url=https://americansongwriter.com/rezz-teams-up-with-dove-cameron-for-alluring-new-single-taste-of-you/|title=Rezz Teams Up With Dove Cameron For Alluring New Single, "Taste Of You"|work=American Songwriter|date=June 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}}{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Robin|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/rezz-collides-with-dove-cameron-on-blockbuster-single-taste-of-you/|title=Rezz Collides With Dove Cameron On Blockbuster Single 'Taste Of You'|work=Clash|date=16 June 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}}

On 3 September, Rezz released "Chemical Bond", a collaboration with Deathpact.{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Raven|url=https://edmidentity.com/2021/09/03/rezz-deathpact-chemical-bond/|title=Rezz Drops First Single Off New Album 'Spiral'|work=EDM Identity|date=3 September 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} On 1 October, a fourth single titled "Let Me In" was released; the track was a collaboration with fknsyd, who provided vocals.{{cite web|last=Meadow|first=Matthew|url=https://www.youredm.com/2021/10/01/rezz-drops-new-single-let-me-in-from-forthcoming-spiral-album-watch-listen/|title=Rezz Drops New Single "Let Me In" From Forthcoming 'Spiral' Album [WATCH + LISTEN]|work=Your EDM|date=1 October 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} On 3 November, Rezz revealed the album's track list, including its four previously released singles and seven additional tracks.{{cite web|last=Meadow|first=Matthew|url=https://www.youredm.com/2021/11/03/rezz-reveals-full-tracklist-for-upcoming-album-spiral-out-this-month/|title=Rezz Reveals Full Tracklist For Upcoming Album 'Spiral,' Out This Month|work=Your EDM|date=3 November 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} The album was officially released on 19 November.{{cite web|last=Sani|first=Niko|url=https://edm.com/music-releases/rezz-spiral-album-listen|title=REZZ's Production Mastery Shines On Mesmerizing Third Album, "Spiral"|website=EDM.com|date=19 November 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}}

On 7 January 2022, Rezz released "Menace", a bonus track off Spiral.{{cite web|last=Heffler|first=Jason|url=https://edm.com/music-releases/rezz-menace-preview-spiral-bonus-track|title=REZZ Announces Release Date of "Spiral" Bonus Track, "MENACE": Listen to a Preview|website=EDM.com|date=3 January 2022|accessdate=6 February 2024}}

The album was originally intended to be released in 2020, though this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with Billboard, Rezz detailed that "A lot of the songs from the album were made, like a year ago [2020]", but the pandemic would have affected touring, "so everything was postponed."{{cite web|last=Bain|first=Katie|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/rezz-interview-spiral-album-tour-1235001461/|title=Rezz On Her New Album & Her Personal Evolution: 'I've Known Subtly That I Was Gay My Whole Life'|work=Billboard|date=23 November 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} Though many of the songs were made during 2020, Rezz expressed that songs were added afterwards.

Many of the tracks feature collaborations with other producers and artists, with many featuring artists providing vocals.{{cite web|last=Meadow|first=Matthew|url=https://www.youredm.com/2021/11/19/rezz-releases-her-fourth-album-spiral-w-metric-peekaboo-eddie-more/|title=Rezz releases her fourth album, "Spiral" w/ Metric, Peekaboo, EDDIE, & More|work=Your EDM|date=19 November 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}}{{cite web|last=Krongold|first=Gabriel|url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2021/11/album-review-rezz-spiral/|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Rezz – Spiral|work=EDMTunes|date=25 November 2021|accessdate=6 February 2024}} The song "Paper Walls" is a collaboration with Canadian band Metric, and explores elements of future funk and glitch hop.

The album received generally positive reviews, with many EDM media writers commenting the album displayed Rezz's growth as a producer, whilst maintaining her signature dark sonic presence. Katie Bain of Billboard wrote that Spiral "features the same deliciously ominous, often alien-sounding bass music that made her a breakout star circa 2016." Niko Sani of EDM.com called Spiral Rezz's "most cohesive work yet", adding that "the album captures her signature sound beautifully while simultaneously showcasing her growth and versatility as a music producer."

Opining on "Sacrificial", Katie Stone of EDM.com wrote that Rezz balances Pvris lead singer Lynn Gunn's vocals with "her signature midtempo stylings," and that the track is "both sinister and ethereal in tone, expertly combining elements of rock and electronica into one powerhouse single." Writing about "Chemical Bond", Raven Wright of EDM Identity opined that the track has a "nice and slow" beginning, "with a haunting melody" featuring both Rezz's and Deathpact's signature sounds. Wright added that "the first drop transitions into deep midtempo goodness", and "the second drop that occurs is gritty, nasty, and so captivating".

The album was nominated in the "Dance Recording of the Year" category at the Juno Awards of 2023.{{cite web|last=McClure|first=Leah|url=https://edm.com/news/juno-award-nominations-2022|title=Rezz, Loud Luxury, Bensley, BLOND:ISH and More Nominated for 2022 JUNO Awards: See the Full List|website=EDM.com|date=1 February 2023|accessdate=6 February 2024}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Spiral – Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Chemical Bond

| note1 = with Deathpact

| extra1 = {{hlist|Rezz|Deathpact}}

| length1 = 2:22

| title2 = Let Me In

| note2 = with fknsyd

| extra2 = Rezz

| length2 = 3:28

| title3 = Levitate

| extra3 = Rezz

| length3 = 3:28

| title4 = Sacrificial

| note4 = with PVRIS

| extra4 = Rezz

| length4 = 3:02

| title5 = Paper Walls

| note5 = with Metric

| extra5 = Rezz

| length5 = 3:39

| title6 = Spun

| extra6 = Rezz

| length6 = 2:46

| title7 = Out Of My Head

| note7 = with Shadow Cliq

| extra7 = Rezz

| length7 = 2:55

| title8 = Taste of You

| note8 = featuring Dove Cameron

| extra8 = Rezz

| length8 = 2:47

| title9 = Vortex

| note9 = with Peekaboo

| extra9 = {{hlist|Rezz|Peekaboo}}

| length9 = 4:42

| title10 = Time

| note10 = with Eddie

| extra10 = {{hlist|Rezz|Eddie}}

| length10 = 4:00

| title11 = Breathe

| note11 = with Fortune of Graves

| extra11 = {{hlist|Rezz|Fortune of Graves}}

| length11 = 2:21

| total_length = 35:35

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title12 = Menace

| length12 = 3:16

| extra12 = Rezz

| total_length = 38:51

}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Rezz}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2021 albums

Category:Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Albums produced by Rezz

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Rezz albums