Track Premiere: Serpents of Secrecy – ‘Heel Turn’

It’s been a hard road for Serpents of Secrecy, leading up to the release of their debut album, Ave Vindicta (“Hail Punishment” in English). The stoner metal trio were at work on the album in 2017 when bassist and Baltimore scene fixture Rev. Jim Forrester—also of Sixty Watt Shaman and Foghound—was tragically killed outside of the tattoo shop he worked at in the city.

In the wake of Forrester’s death, the members of Serpents of Secrecy put the band to the side because it was just too painful at the time. Recently, the group completed work on the album and Ave Vindicta will see the light of day this Halloween, Forrester’s favorite holiday. Prior to its release, Decibel has a stream of “Heel Turn,” the second song on the album.

With Forrester’s bass loud and clear alongside thick, hazy riffs and Mark Lorenzo’s raspy vocals, “Heel Turn” is a top-tier stoner metal standard and taste of the full album.

“This track is a signature Rev. Jim song with a catchy and groovy bass line as the centerpiece,” guitarist Todd Ingram tells Decibel. “Rev loved WWE wrestling and from the very start he dubbed this one ‘Heel Turn,’ and with Mark’s lyrics there was no need to change it once the track was finished.

“I remember after Steve [Fisher, guitar] joined the band he came up with the harmony lines during the verses. They sound so killer and build tension leading into the chorus. We take turns with the solos that deliver an in your face, rock guitar swagger. ‘Heel Turn,’ being one of the shorter songs on the album, never failed to get the heads noddin’ and the booties shakin’.”

“Heel Turn” is streaming exclusively through Decibel below. Pre-orders and more preview tracks are available via Serpents of Secrecy’s Bandcamp.