After a brief(ish) hiatus, we're back with the new 2019 season of our podcast! You can find us on iTunes and use your regular podcast search engine to look for Scene Point Blank, or you can just use the handy embedded player below to listen to our new episode. Show notes are also included below.

Founding Cro-Mags member and bassist Harley Flanagan has reached a settlement with John Joseph (vocals) and drummer Mackie Jayson (drums) over use of the band name Cro-Mags. Going forward, Flanagan will perform using the Cro-Mag's name, while performances by the others will be billed as Cro-Mags “JM” under the agreement.

Flanagan issued a statement with more information about the decision:

After many years of confusion, rumor and dispute, I, John Joseph and Mackie Jayson have reached a settlement designed to avoid any further confusion about the Cro-Mags mark and band. I, as the founder of the band and bass player on all Cro-Mags albums will be performing as Cro-Mags going forward and have exclusive ownership of the name as such in all commercial purposes world-wide. There will be a three month transition during which time I will be performing as Cro-Mags and John and Mackie’s shows may still be advertised as Cro-Mags as they finalize their name change to CRO-MAGS “JM”. During this transition period, to confirm which band you want to see, please check on our websites or social media pages. As of August 1, 2019, all shows under the CRO-MAGS name (on its own) will feature me, and all of John and Mackie’s shows will be under the name CRO-MAGS “JM”. Thanks for your patience as we wrap this up. Now that we have come to an agreement, I look forward to continuing to deliver music from the entire Cro-Mags catalogue the fans have come to know and love, be able to perform live without confusion and continue to create new music with the distinctive sound that is Cro-Mags.

PUP, who are currently on tour in Europe in support of the new Morbid Stuff (Little Dipper/Rise), have announced another significant jaunt across North America this fall, including dates with Charly Bliss and Illuminati Hotties.

Two Brazilian bands, Deafkids and Rakta, have joined forces for a collaborative two-song EP. The bands are currently on tour together as well, on a European trek that kicked off following Roadburn.

Deafkids last released Metaprogramação (Neurot Recordings).

Red Scare Industries has issued a statement with a bundle of news on three upcoming releases.

On June 7, the label will release Deals, Deals, Deals!, a Philadelphia by way of Seattle band who will be touring with Teenage Bottlerocket this summer.

On June 21, Billy Liar of Scotland will release his debut record, which is solo-DIY punky stuff in a similar realm to early Against Me!, Frank Turner, and AJJ.

Also, Broadway Calls have reformed for an upcoming record. "It's their classic bouncy punk with smart lyrics," Red Scare says, and will be recorded this year. Red Scare also reissued the band's 2007 s/t debut. (SPB talked with the band a decade ago, prior to Fest 8.)

Dead Neck are touring Europe later this month, starting things off at Mama Liz's in Stamforrd, UK on April 27 and concluding the tour at l'Archiduc in Belgium in mid-May.

The UK pun bank will release a split with Actionmen titled Defections on April 30 on Mud Cake Records. The band also recently reissued their debtu, self-titled EP.

On May 24, The King Khan Experience will release Turkey Ride, a collection of eighteen year-odl recordings that saw very limited release originally. The new/old record comes out on Khannibalism/Ernest Jenning Record Co.

The King Khan Experience was a solo project of namesake King Khan and was recorded when he lived in Bordeaux and Berlin. Sophie Crumb provided the artwork, and the album includes a German-language Jay Reatard cover, and 12 other tracks.

As hardcore pioneers D.O.A. celebrate their 40th anniversary this year, the band will release a double 12" LP/cd titled 1978, coming out on May 3 on Sudden Death.

The album is a collection of unreleased demos, rare songs, and early singles from the veteran group fronted by Joey "Shithead" Keithley.

The album's title references their early period, and the cover art is a nod to seven former members who have passed on since the group's original formation. Throughout the album, Joey Shithead and Chuck Biscuist play on each track, as other members contribute based on the timeframe of recording.

Nearly seven years since the release of White Silence and a year since the passing of bassist Caleb Scofield, Cave In will return with Final Transmission, scheduled to release on June 7 on Hydra Head.

Last March, the band was rehearsing new material when they received the tragic news of Scofield's death in an auto accident. In part, the record is inspired by a text message with a voice attachment, received from Caleb a month before this death, introducing a melody concept for a new song.

“Hearing his voice fucks you up a little bit,” says guitarist Adam McGrath. “We were surprised to get it from him, actually, but we thought it was great. And that was it. In a weird way, it’s the end of the story as far as our relationship together.” 

The new record starts off with that voice memo, and each of the nine songs on Final Transmission includes Scofield's work.

“Adam, Steve [Brodsky] and I would sometimes get together to work on stuff when Caleb couldn’t make it,” drummer J.R. Conners adds. “But the next time Caleb would be there and the songs turned into something else. It became much more of a Cave In project than it was before he showed up. He had weird rhythms that none of us would ever come up with or think to try, which turned the material into a different thing. He had a huge hand in these songs.”

The group first envisioed Final Transmission as a demo collection, but ultimately fully realized the songs instead. Recording and mixing was an emotion experience, the band stresses. Half of all proceeds will benefit Scofield's wife and children.

“I feel really lucky to have this record,” McGrath adds. “I love it, but I don’t like listening to it. I’m sure I’ll listen to it eventually, but right now it’s difficult. Just hearing him play kills me. I’ll miss him forever.”