Media Blitz - A Voice of Our Own

"We'll Bite Back."


I've had the joyous honor of playing with Media Blitz at a show I set-up here in Oxnard locally for them and must say that I've also seen them three times. One being Gross Negligence's last show with Raw Power and the other being Gnarmageddon Fest 2011.

Anyways straight to the punk. or should I say hardcore? For those that don't know Media Blitz was originally a pure punk band. When Rob Beverly (Guitarist of Constant Struggle) banged the skins for them?. Media Blitz shouldn't even need a introduction, but for those Ventura locals reading this. Shay Gutierrez (Singer of Dogends) said [Media Blitz is like the Orange County Dogends, just way sicker.]

Enough of the trivia let's get straight to the review

For fans of their first EP "No Regrets" you will not be disappointed. Blaring guitar shred skills fall into place during wicked sick solos matched with the frustrated ramblings of Jason Schwartz (Singer of Media Blitz). You have your traditional combination of fast-riffage intwined with break-down heavy outros with something unusual for most hardcore bands.. Guitar solo's? Yeah as stated before they are wickedly sick.

Fans of California Hardcore. Pick this shit up and listen to it. And the No Regrets EP as well.

P.S. they are playing Gnarmageddon 2012 in Berkley and Santa Ana this year in June also. Be on the look out!

Listen to Media Blitz on Bandcamp here: http://mediablitz.bandcamp.com/


Written by John Williams

Gross Negligence - R.I.P. EP

[Stage Dives and High Fives] As Joey Mercado (Singer of Swellbow) would say undoubt to this raunchy 7 inch that blares a sound reminiscent of the California sound from 2006 - 2010. Being one of the last releases by Flat Black Records (Discography to be reviewed entirely in the near future), Gross Negligence does not disappoint!

Opening with Skate the Apocalypse; the banter of a hardcore prolific monologue reminiscing the end of teen angst is heard to follow through with a a general hardcore intro that follows with machine gun drumming and crude-hearted vocals fighting at a unequal peak. Similar to the Pure Hate EP (Dogends) the recording is noticeably of a raw-like quality that is reminiscent of early 80's hardcore with analogue 8 track technologies. 

Free Emilio is an example of the general speed-punk minor pv tune that a majority of bands in punk/hardcore use. Simple, fast, and has something the audience can shout in repetition. Ever had a friend go to jail? Wanted to do more than put his name on a t-shirt? How about chant the phrase over and over again at a punk rock show?

Restly the next 4 tracks bring to discussion tough assholes at shows (Tough Guy), stressful situations (High On Stress - Originally off the GN Demo), destructive mentalities (Smash it Up), and like everything else (Decay). 

Fans of bands of early nardcore bands (RKL, Ill Repute) or California hardcore punk bands in general I would personally advise you check-out these San-Diegan's last release.

Download: Gross Negligence - R.I.P. EP here!

http://www.mediafire.com/?x0pd804f8ooyg20

Written by John Williams