Gene Hoglan

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Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer. He is acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his playing style is very technically demanding, he retains high accuracy at extreme tempos, earning him the nicknames "The Atomic Clock" and "Human Drum Machine".

Hoglan has played for numerous metal bands across his career. He first established himself as the drummer of Dark Angel in the 1980s, and began to expand his repertoire in the early 1990s after that band split up. Since then, he has played for Death, Strapping Young Lad and the solo projects of its frontman Devin Townsend, Fear Factory, Dethklok and Testament, amid two Dark Angel reunions and participation in several other side projects. He released his own album, the Gene Hoglan: The Atomic Clock DVD, and served as Testament's longest-serving drummer.

Hoglan was featured on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in November 2010. He also won Terrorizer magazine's Reader's Poll for Best Drummer 2010, and Modern Drummer magazine nominated Hoglan for Best Metal Drummer, and Best Recorded Performance (for Dethklok's Dethalbum II) on their 2011 ballot. He was nominated for Best Drummer in Revolver magazine's 2010 Reader's Poll.

Early life and influences

Hoglan got his first drum kit when he was 13 and is completely self-taught. He started jamming along to his Kiss and Rush records,<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH GENE HOGLAN">Template:Cite web</ref> with Peter Criss and Neil Peart being his early influences.<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH GENE HOGLAN2">Template:Cite web</ref> Later Cozy Powell, Tommy Aldridge, Robb Reiner of Anvil, Rob "Wacko" Hunter of Raven and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor got him into double bass drumming.<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH GENE HOGLAN2"/>

Career

In 1983, Hoglan began his music career as a roadie (lighting engineer) for the thrash metal band Slayer, where he also played the drums during concert soundchecks.<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside.de">Template:Cite web</ref> He also did backing vocals on the song "Evil Has No Boundaries", from the first Slayer album Show No Mercy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He contributed in the recording of Haunting the Chapel, holding Dave Lombardo's drum kit together while recording "Chemical Warfare" because there was no carpet in the studio, said drum kit including a china cymbal owned by Hoglan. He became an influence in Lombardo's drumming style and speed. Lombardo had just had the double bass added to his kit and it was the first double bass Hoglan ever played. Lombardo was impressed with Hoglan's playing, and Hoglan gave Lombardo tips regarding the use of the double kick drum.<ref name="INTERVIEW WITH GENE HOGLAN"/>

In 1984, Hoglan was part of the band War God with Michelle Meldrum.<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside.de"/> At the end of the same year he was asked to join the thrash metal band Dark Angel as the drummer.<ref name="voicesfromthedarkside.de"/> He penned most of the lyrics for Dark Angel's next three albums. He achieved greater fame during the mid-1990s playing with Death, at the same time that bandleader Chuck Schuldiner was taking that group into a more progressive style. Schuldiner stated that there had previously been animosity between himself and Hoglan, but the two eventually were able to reconcile their differences. He said: "It was just screwed-up, stupid shit that happened when Death and Dark Angel toured together, and I'm glad we were able to get past it. I wanted Gene to play on the record because he has a lot of experience, and he has his own unique style of playing."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Subsequently, he recorded one album with the thrash metal band Testament, and made the acquaintance of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Devin Townsend, forging a lasting friendship. Around this time, coming off of the final tour he performed with Death, Hoglan was approached by Slayer to replace a departing Paul Bostaph. Jon Dette, however, took the position, much to Hoglan's approval.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He would go on to record several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed/industrial/death metal band Strapping Young Lad and under Devin Townsend's name.

Hoglan was also part of thrash metal band Tenet, a side project of Strapping Young Lad guitarist Jed Simon, from 2003 to 2007. Hoglan left the band on amicable terms in January 2007. He was replaced by Adrian Erlandsson only to return to the group in June of the same year. Hoglan recorded his drum parts for the entirety of the following album in a mere two days.Template:Citation needed

On the Vancouver stop of Opeth's 2004 Lamentations tour, Hoglan stood in for drummer Martin Lopez, who was said to be having panic attacks.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords.com">"Blabbermouth.net - April, 2006 - OPETH Mainman: We Don't Know If Drummer MARTIN LOPEZ Is Ever Coming Back" April 11, 2006</ref> Opeth's drum tech had filled in for the two previous dates on the tour and Lopez rejoined the band for the Seattle, Washington, show.

File:Gene Hoglan, Gods of Metal 2005, Italy.jpg
Hoglan at the Gods of Metal festival in 2005

In 2005, Hoglan stood in for Lopez for the majority of the Sounds of the Underground tour when Lopez began having more panic attacks.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords.com"/> Hoglan played double duty by playing a set with Strapping Young Lad then performing with Opeth later in the evening. It was later announced Lopez had a rare blood disorder and was seeking treatment. Hoglan also appeared in Opeth's music video "The Grand Conjuration" as they filmed it on the tour while in Los Angeles, California.

Other bands have also recruited Hoglan as a session drummer. He has recorded albums with the Norwegian black metal band Old Man's Child and the Danish death metal band Daemon. Additionally he has done production and engineering work for other albums and demos. Hoglan also was recruited by Vancouver thrash metal band The Almighty Punchdrunk, and appeared as a band member for their only album to date, Music for Them Asses, released in 2001.

Hoglan is working with Dethklok, the band from the animated TV show Metalocalypse. The show was co-created by stand-up comedian/actor/musician Brendon Small, who also composes or performs all of the music. Hoglan features in Dethklok's debut album, The Dethalbum, which was released on September 25, 2007.<ref>"STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's GENE HOGLAN Laying Down Tracks For DETHKLOK Album" December 23, 2006.</ref> He toured with Brendon Small and the live band during the summer of 2008. Besides working with Dethklok, Hoglan is also a guest star by voicing a health inspector in one episode of the series. He later performed on Dethalbum II, the sequel album released on September 29, 2009, and again toured with Dethklok. The two later collaborated to make Brendon Small's Galaktikon using extra studio time from the Dethklok studio sessions.

Hoglan filled in as the drummer for Unearth when their then drummer, Mike Justian, quit while on tour. He has also joined the metal band Pitch Black Forecast, with Mushroomhead singer Jason Popson, as the band's permanent drummer. Even more recently, Hoglan was announced as the drummer for the reunited Bay Area Thrash metal band Forbidden's reunion tour, replacing original drummer Paul Bostaph.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hoglan played drums on Zimmers Hole's third studio album When You Were Shouting at the Devil...We Were in League With Satan in 2008.

File:20171209 Oberhausen Ruhrpott Metal Meeting Testament 0438.jpg
Gene Hoglan with Testament at Ruhrpott Metal Meeting 2017

In June 2011, he reunited with Testament, to record their eleventh studio album Dark Roots of Earth. On that album, he filled in for Paul Bostaph, who was unable to participate in the recording sessions because of a "serious injury". In 2012, he began touring with Testament, and on January 27 filled in for Charlie Benante of Anthrax.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although Hoglan was initially brought back to the band as a temporary drummer (in a fashion similar to his initial tenure when he recorded the Demonic album), he had since rejoined as a permanent member of Testament, recording two more albums with the band – Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) and Titans of Creation (2020) – and surpassing original drummer Louie Clemente as their longest-serving drummer. In 2018, Hoglan played with both Anthrax and Testament on the same nights during the Slayer farewell tour while Charlie Benante was recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hoglan announced his second departure from Testament on January 21, 2022.<ref name="Blabbermouth January 2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gene was the drummer for Fear Factory from 2009 to 2012 and played on their release Mechanize; his association with the band ended when he was "no longer needed", and he expressed both a reluctance to join and a disappointment in the ultimate resolution of his tenure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also participated in the recording sessions of Viking's reunion album, No Child Left Behind (2015).<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

Hoglan participated in the 2013 reunion of Dark Angel, who still play live occasionally to this day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band announced in late March 2023 that it would continue on after the death of band member Jim Durkin and was planning to release a new album sometime in 2023 or 2024;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the resulting album was 2025's Extinction Level Event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hoglan has stated that Dark Angel has a "shit tons of songs" for a possible sixth album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other ventures

In 2017, Hoglan released an art collection consisting of long-exposure photography of him playing with colorful glowing drumsticks, resulting in psychedelic imagery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hoglan made a guest appearance in the season 2 finale of The Eric Andre Show on Adult Swim.

Personal life

Hoglan is married to Dark Angel guitarist Laura Christine. Known for his large frame, he successfully lost around Template:Convert to counter his diabetes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Equipment

Gene endorses and uses Pearl Drums, Sabian cymbals, Pro-Mark sticks and Evans heads.

Drum setup

  • Drums – Pearl Reference Carbon Mist Finish, Black Hardware<ref name="Pearl">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="DM">Template:Cite web</ref>
    • 24x16 Bass Drum (x2)
    • 12x10 Tom
    • 14x12 Tom
    • 18x16 Floor Tom
    • 14x8 Brass Free Floating Snare Drum
  • Cymbals – Sabian<ref name="DM"/>
    • 15" AAX X-Celerator Hi-Hats (or 15" AA Metal-X Hi Hats)
    • 19" Paragon Chinese
    • 22" HH Power Bell Ride
    • 18" AAX X-Plosion Fast Crash
    • 18" AAX Metal Crash
    • 8" Paragon Splash (originally owned by Neil Peart)
    • 10" Paragon Splash (originally owned by Neil Peart)
    • 19" AAX Metal Crash
    • 22" HH Power Bell Ride (x2)
    • 19" Paragon Chinese (or 20" AAX Chinese Brilliant) (x2)
  • Drumheads – Evans<ref name="LHF">Template:Cite web</ref>
    • G2 Clear
    • SD Dry
  • Pedals:
    • Tama Camco (until 2015–2016) (×2)
    • Pearl Eliminator Redline (nowadays) (×2)
  • Hardware – Pearl<ref name="Pearl"/>
    • B1000 Boom Stand (x7)
    • H2000 Hi-Hat Stand
    • S2000 Snare Stand
    • T2000 Double Tom Stand
    • D2000 Throne
  • Other
    • Pro-Mark 2B Nylon Tip Drumsticks<ref name="LHF"/>

Bands

Current

Former

Live

Session

Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:15 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:70 top:10 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:10/01/1984 till:04/01/2020 #Do not use auto-updating timelines as it can cause problems when the graphic updates on a daily basis TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1985 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986

Colors = 

id:Main  value:red     legend:Main_project
id:Side  value:orange  legend:Side_project

BarData = 

 bar:Dark text:"Dark Angel"
 bar:Death text:"Death"
 bar:Strapping text:"Strapping Young Lad"
 bar:Testament text:"Testament"
 bar:Dethklok text:"Dethklok/Brendon Small"
 bar:Fear text:"Fear Factory"
 bar:Phantasm text:"Phantasm"
 bar:Tenet text:"Tenet"
 bar:Forecast text:"Pitch Black Forecast"
 bar:Zimmers text:"Zimmers Hole"
 bar:Meldrum text:"Meldrum"
 bar:Forbidden text:"Forbidden"
 bar:Viking text:"Viking"

PlotData= 

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
 bar:Dark from:10/01/1984 till:12/31/1992 color:Main
 bar:Dark from:01/01/2002 till:12/31/2005 color:Main
 bar:Dark from:10/01/2013 till:end color:Main
 bar:Death from:01/01/1993 till:12/31/1995 color:Main
 bar:Strapping from:07/01/1995 till:05/11/2007 color:Main
 bar:Testament from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Main
 bar:Testament from:01/01/2011 till:end color:Main
 bar:Dethklok from:01/06/2007 till:end color:Main
 bar:Fear  from:04/08/2009 till:01/19/2012 color:Main
 bar:Phantasm  from:01/01/1987 till:02/01/1987 color:Side
 bar:Tenet from:07/31/1996 till:end color:Side 
 bar:Forecast  from:01/01/2005 till:end color:Side
 bar:Zimmers  from:12/12/2007 till:11/04/2018 color:Side
 bar:Meldrum  from:02/02/2008 till:05/26/2009 color:Side
 bar:Forbidden  from:08/01/2011 till:01/01/2011 color:Side
 bar:Viking  from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2013 color:Side

</timeline>

Discography

Hoglan played drums on the following albums, unless otherwise noted.

Videography

  • Dark Angel - Ultimate Revenge 2 (VHS, 1989)
  • Strapping Young Lad - For Those Aboot to Rock: Live at the Commodore (DVD, 2004, Century Media Records)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Gene Hoglan - The Atomic Clock (DVD, 2010, Hoglan Industries)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Behind the Player: Dimmu Borgir (DVD, 2010, Alfred Music Publishing)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Gene Hoglan - The Clock Strikes Two (DVD, 2016, Hoglan Industries)
  • Bryan Beller - "Mastering Tone and Versatility (DVD, 2012, Alfred Music Publishing)

References

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