Oblivion

We are the original OBLIVION with our thrash roots dating back to 1984. Check out our music, art, lyrics, videos and all we have to offer and become part of our family. If you like old-school thrash, we have been carrying the flag for three decades and know you'll enjoy the band and its history.

OBLIVION released a reissue of its entire catalog on September 9, 2016 through Divebomb Records titled Cyclogenesis: Songs for Armageddon. The current line-up consists of the core unit: George Machuga (Vocals), Bob Petrosino (Bass), Mike Sica (Guitar) and Dave Gutierrez (Guitar/Vocals), & Chris Kelly (Drums).

OBLIVION HISTORY:

OBLIVION started in 1984 by founding member Mike Sica (Guitarist). Line-ups fluctuated throughout its nine year existence. Sica, Santo Dibenedetto, Rich Valeo and Dave Gutierrez were the original line-up playing CBGBS, Dover Showplace, etc. in support of national Thrash acts from around the world. The line-up recorded two demos: OBLIVION and Intention To Kill in 1985. The band went on hiatus as Mike formed Cypruss with Mike Edley (Bass), Rich Przytula (Drums) and Dominic Pteracca (Vocals). During the same time Dave Gutierrez joined Social Decay on Bass then Lethal Aggression on Guitar. Cypruss was short lived and Mike reformed Oblivion with Bob Petrosino (Bass) and George Machuga (Vocals) who became the consistent force behind the band from 1987 through 1992. They quickly recruited Joe Farley on Drums to record the 1987 release Back To Maim. The band played many shows and were able to perform two songs (Germ Warfare and The Unknown) on the iconic TV program - The Uncle Floyd Show.

Oblivion decided to part ways with Joe Farley, who went on to NYC hardcore band - Breakdown. Oblivion was lucky enough to find an incredible talent on drums in Chris Kelly. After joining with Chris, Oblivion played throughout the Tri-State area while receiving critical acclaim in fanzines and magazines around the world. The band really established itself but still went through another line-up change when Sica wanted to go in a different direction and formed Fallacy with Chris Kelly, Mike Marshall, Jeff Payne and Joe Hurley releasing 'Rooked but Reborn'. Losing the founding member of the band was a big hit but Petrosino and Machuga decided to trudge ahead.

Thanks to former-Oblivion singer Dave Gutierrez the band continued into its most successful period. Gutierrez now playing with Lethal Aggression with Sica introduced David Fesette to Petrosino and Machuga on a hunch that they would fit well together. Gutierrez was right, Fesette fit the band. Since Thrash, speed, hardcore and Death Metal were the kings of the scene, Oblivion thought it might be good to stand out by recruiting a rock drummer in the vein of Bonham that would add a little sludge to the speed. John Proveaux (Solace) was recruited as that drummer, who did not know a lot about the thrash underground scene but knew a lot about drumming. To fill out the unit Petrosino contacted Charlie Alaimo, who played great and came with musical training. The new OBLIVION recorded War Gives Me Peace of Mind? on a shoe string budget on December 3 & 4, 1988 with Engineer Damian Cordisco.

In 1989, Oblivion followed up with Why Did Johnny Kill? recording with Cordisco again and really began to take off. They started getting constant air-play on 89.5 WSOU along with stations around the world. Oblivion played show after show after show with local bands like Psychosis to national acts like Bio-Hazard. Their gamble on finding their own sound fusing thrash, rock drumming, hardcore and musicianship was paying off. They fit all bills, be it Death Metal, Hardcore, Rock, Thrash, etc. Oblivion was unique enough to transcend genres. But, typical of the ever changing line-ups the rock end of the band Proveaux and Alaimo really wanted to go in another direction more akin to hard rock and love metal. Their girlfriends at the time never understood the appeal of Oblivion and finally talked them into going toward a lighter rock sound.

Well lightning struck again. Petrosino and Machuga agreed to get more technical and faster so they got Chris Kelly back from Fallacy to man the drums and found a guitar virtuoso in Frank Bonanno. Bonanno was an intricate musician who could outright play technical riffs and was metal through and through. Chris' drumming was second to none and the unit recorded the ultimate Oblivion release "Contents Under Pressure." From top to bottom this release was a thrash classic getting fantastic reviews around the world and great word of mouth. The band continued to fit in with all genres but always stood out. MCA came knocking on the door but as expected line-up changes began to rear its ugly head again. Frank and Chris started a side project called Technikill where Frank became the main composer. Frank quit Oblivion to spend more time on "his" band. Luckily, Tom Picciotti was available and could play any song as soon as he heard it. Tom played with Oblivion through 1991 but never got to record but is on the live tracks - 'Mind Ripper' and 'No Code' found on the tracks of this web page. Oblivion just started playing less often and could never find a stable line-up of dedicated musicians. The talent was always there but it just lacked the drive from all five members to finally seal the MCA deal.

As time went on, OBLIVION is resurrected with Bob Petrosino, George Machuga, Mike Sica, Frank Bonanno and Santo DiBenedetto/Chris Kelly. Dom Petrocelli was drumming for the band in 2011-2013, who is an incredible drummer and born after the band broke up in 1992. He is the son of Tony Petrocelli (RagStew, United Blood, Hate Wagon, Minus-Us, Kundt). He added a new dimension of blast beats, updated styles and is also an accomplished guitarist for his band Nemora. He was a perfect fit and recorded four new songs with the band that was supposed to be released on an EP titled "Mankind Becomes Inhuman." The songs are complete, except the vocals and final production. A former member does not want the songs released, so we apologize to anybody, who was looking forward to hearing it. Be on the look out for a show coming to town near you!

DISCOGRAPHY:

Oblivion - 1985

Intention To Kill - 1985

Back To Maim - 1987 (Featured in Metal Evolution ep. 106 VH1 Classic)

Intoxicated With Agony!! - 1988

War Gives Me Peace of Mind? - 1988

Why Did Johnny Kill? - 1989

Contents Under Pressure - 1990

Resurrection (Remixed) - 2009

Mankind Becomes Inhuman - tentative 2014 label release

Cyclogenesis: Songs for Armm - 2016 ( Divebomb Records)
https://tribunalrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cyclogenesis-songs-for-armageddon


Current Members:
PETROSINO - currently in OBLIVION: Resurrected was in RagStew, Hate Wagon , Minus-Us and Kundt.

MACHUGA - currently in OBLIVION: Resurrected was in Chum Bucket, 3 Legged Bitch.

SICA - Currently in OBLIVION Resurrected, Forever Abel and F-Bomb was in Fallacy, Sublimation, Johnny Pipe, 4 Disorder, Cyprus, Co-Factor, Ugly Mugg,

BONANNO - currently in OBLIVION: Resurrected was in Technikill, Storm Warning and Seventh Sacrament

DIBENEDETTO - currently in OBLIVION

KELLY - currently in OBLIVION, was in Orphans, Fallacy, Technikill, Minu-Us, Johnny Pipe, Temporary Grace


Past Members:

PETROCELLI - went onto Nemora

PICCIOTTI - is an electrical engineer.

GUTIERREZ - went onto Lethal Aggression, Mental Abuse, Total Fucking Noise and is back with Social Decay

PROVEAUX - went to drum for Solace, THC, Voodoo Vibe and is now in a Rolling Stones cover band.

ALAIMO - currently in Raftree and played in The Fuzz (a cover band featuring all cops).

VALEO - ??????

DIBENEDETTO - Currently in 44-Fridays, previously in Cypress and Delrium Tremmens and is a huge NJ DEVILS fan who actively supports his daughter's musical aspirations in Just Kait.

FESETTE

Sadly, JOE FARLEY is deceased and may he rest in peace for he truly had a good heart. He played with BREAKDOWN for a long time.