We heaved a spiked and studded pentagram at The Mahones’ lead vocalist and guitarist, Finny McConnell, and we received the following six-leaved clover in return!

Fightstar have posted the first track from their upcoming new album, Behind The Devils Back online. Check out ‘Animal’ here.

Brooklyn eclectic label The End Records are excited to announce their 2014 Sampler, featuring exclusive tracks from Rich Robinson (Black Crowes), Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Davidge (of Massive Attack and Halo 4 fame), other highly anticipated releases of 2014, and select releases from last year.

Today, Speedwolf premiere the new track “Ride With Death” HERE. The track, an exclusive for the influential and tastemaking website, is the title track to Speedwolf’s forthcoming (and highly anticipated) debut album, ‘Ride With Death’, set for release on November 8th – next week!!! – through Hells Headbangers.

Columbia, SC rockers Crossfade have signed with Eleven Seven Music. Home to some of today’s most influential rock groups such as Motley Crue, Papa Roach, Drowning Pool, Buckcherry and more, Crossfade are scheduled to release their latest effort, ‘We All Bleed’ in June 2011.

‘Metamorphosis,’ the new album from Danish melo-death quartet Mercenary, is out in the US today, and next Tuesday, April 5th in Canada, via Prosthetic Records. It is available now, digitally, in both countries with a second exclusive bonus track entitled, “The Devil’s Own.” As previously announced, both digital and physical formats in North America contain the bonus track, “Incorporate Your Demons.”

Pentagram, the band that has been churning out widely admired hard rock/doom metal for over four decades, has just released their first single “Call the Man” off the album ‘Last Rites’. The exclusive premiere being hosted by Decibel Magazine can be heard on the magazine’s site HERE. Check it out and be sure to head over to the band’s landing page HERE where pre-orders for ‘Last Rites’ are now live.

In anticipation of the release of their upcoming new full-length, ‘Time Is Up’, Denver thrashers Havok today unveil part I of their in-studio video footage. Brought to you by Metal Injection, the video takes you behind the scenes of the recording process with commentary from the members. Check it out HERE.

Dropkick Murphys are counting down to the release of their highly anticipated new album with “13 Days of Going Out in Style.” Beginning today, February 16, the band will unveil exclusive video content on their Facebook page every day until the release of their forthcoming 13-song set ‘Going Out In Style’ on March 1. Simultaneously, the band will launch a contest on Twitter that will offer fans the chance to win an iPad 2 loaded with Dropkick Murphys content.

Houston, TX based instrumental prog act, Scale The Summit, have debuted the second track from their new album ‘The Collective’, due March 1st. The track, entitled, “Gallows” can be heard now exclusively at Prosthetic Records’ store.prostheticrecords.comWebstore. The band previously released the track, “Whales,” which can be heard on the band’s Facebook page. Scale The Summit have also been releasing videos documenting the making of the album, which can be viewed on their YouTube page.

Weekly Drive-By Truckers have been sharing episodes that give us a view into the making of their forthcoming album ‘Go-Go Boots’ out February 15 on ATO Records. This week’s installment, Episode 7 (viewable below), features the story behind album track “The Thanksgiving Filter.” View all the past episodes HERE.

As the release date for Drugs of Faith’s debut full-length ‘Corroded’ nears release later this month, today National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered blog is hosting the public premiere of “Hidden Costs,” the fourth track from the upcoming album. Check out the raging anthem at THIS LOCATION.

Ireland’s Darkest Era is set to release their new album, ‘The Last Caress of Light’, on February 15th, 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The band has once again teamed up with InvisibleOranges.com to debut a new song from the album, “An Ancient Fire Burns”. Along with hearing the new song, fans can also check out a new video studio diary that chronicles the recording of the album. Both the video and the track are available now HERE.

Georgia’s The Chariot and MetalSucks.net are pleased to announce an exclusive contest giveaway for the band’s new Limited Edition 7-inch vinyl album. Fans can enter the contest at THIS LOCATION. Fans can also pre-order the vinyl at the Good Fight Music merch store, HERE. The winner of the MetalSucks.net contest will receive the #1 pressing of the green glow-in-the-dark colour 7-inch. See below for information about the different colours and pressing information.