> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A Precious World of Memories: An Interview with Gene Hoglan (Death, Dark Angel, Testament) - URL: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/a-precious-world-of-memories-an-interview-with-gene-hoglan-death-dark-angel-testament/ - Published: 2025-08-29T22:00:22.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-29T22:00:22.000Z - Author: Ed Hackimer - Tags: Interviews, #interviews, Gene Hoglan, Death, Dark Angel, Testament, Strapping Young Lad, Chuck Schuldiner Throughout his spectacular career, **Gene Hoglan** has been involved with some of the biggest names to ever play heavy metal. From his earnest beginnings as a lighting tech with **Slayer**, that led him to be featured doing backing vocals on “Evil Has No Boundaries” from *Show No Mercy*, to being bestowed the nickname “The Atomic Clock” during his time in **Strapping Young Lad** alongside **Devin Townsend**, and then being tabbed to play in **Testament** alongside **Alex Skolnick** and long-time partner in crime **Steve DiGiorgio,** **Hoglan’s** discography reads like a who’s who of the heavy metal community. But this fall, **Gene** will be focused on two projects that are near and dear to his heart, as they both pay tribute to members of groups he’s been involved with that have passed on. The first entry in his iconic discography is **Dark Angel’s** 1986 release *Darkness Descends*, a record that despite not being praised at the time was heavily influential in the burgeoning Bay Area thrash scene of the 1980s. In fact, **Metallica** drummer **Lars Ulrich** may have even lifted a drum fill from the title track. Nearly 40 years after that album’s debut, **Dark Angel** are set to release their first album of new material since 1991 next week when *Extinction Level Event* premieres on September 5th through **Reversed Records.** An album that was over a decade in the works at least, it features material **Hoglan** worked on with now departed lead guitarist **Jim Durkin**, who passed away in 2023\. The new album, and subsequent first North American tour for the group in three deccades, are dedicated to **Durkin** and the group hopes to honor his memory with both. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/08/DARK-ANGEL-with-JIM-DURKIN-band-pic-resized-e1680448264934.webp) Dark Angel (Gene at center and Jim to his left). After leaving **Dark Angel** in 1992, **Hoglan** received an interesting offer from an old friend. Through a mutual acquaintance, he was told **Death** frontman **Chuck Schuldiner** was looking for a new drummer. Having toured with **Death** with **Dark Angel**, and knowing **Chuck** from his days in the early ‘80s trading tapes with him, **Hoglan** was intrigued by the opportunity and ultimately joined as things fell apart with **Dark Angel.** He would end up being a part of two of the most iconic extreme metal albums ever released, as **Death** would produce 1993’s *Individual Thought Patterns* and 1995’s godly *Symbolic* during his tenure with the group. **Schuldiner** would famously pass away in 2001 from complications from a brain tumor, leaving a legacy as the **Godfather of Death Metal** for his pioneering writing and playing, evidenced by **Death’s** flawless back catalog. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/08/80573565_2194618557513441_4262455162368425984_n-1.jpg) Stevie D, Gene, Chuck, and Ralph Santolla - **Individual Thought Patterns* touring lineup. Upon the re-release of one of those albums, *Individual Thought Patterns* in 2012, former members of **Death** took part in a benefit show to raise money for cancer research to coincide with the reissue. Named **Death to All**, the group played here and there over the years until recently deciding to embark on tours to honor the legacy of **Chuck Schuldiner.** Featuring **Hoglan** on drums**,** alongside **Steve DiGiorgio (bass), Bobby Koelble (guitar),** and **Max Phelps (guitar/vocals)**, Death to All allows fans to celebrate the these watershed death metal albums, with some being able to see **Chuck’s** music performed live for the first time ever by the musicians who played on the iconic albums. After a run last year to celebrate *Scream Bloody Gore* and *The Sound of Perseverance,* **Death to All** will be hitting spots across North America in November to celebrate 35 years of *Spiritual Healing* and 30 years of *Symbolic*. Ahead of both of these tours and **Dark Angel’s** release of *Extinction Level Event*, I got to speak with **Gene** about these projects, as well as: - finally being able to release a new **Dark Angel** record after a decade of work, how he and **Jim Durkin** worked on the new record together, and how the new album and tour honor his legacy as a founding member of the band. - trading tapes with **Chuck**, how he ended up playing drums for **Death** on *Individual Thought Patterns* and *Symbolic*, and the creative processes for creating two death metal masterpieces. - his working relationship in the studio with **Schuldiner**, how **Death to All** came to be to celebrate **Chuck’s** memory, **Chuck’s** legacy, and a list of musicians who have played alongside the group during it’s performances throughout the years. - how he ended up in **Opeth’s** video for *The Grand Conjuration*, what it’s like to have four hours to learn a few 13-minute songs, and reflections on his incredible career so far. You can watch the entire interview **HERE:** --- It was great to speak with **Gene** about these two projects that honor two incredible musicians taken from this world too soon. Listening to him talk about them, you can hear the passion he has for both and the commitment to honoring the greatness of the past. For a man who can pick pretty much any project he wants to work on, it’s telling that he’s chosen to put his passion into **Death to All** and **Dark Angel** for the foreseeable future as touching tributes to two musicians that were so close to him to honor his precious memories of them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/08/Screen-Shot-2025-08-29-at-2.09.00-PM-1.png) Chuck and Gene taking a break from creating timeless records. **Dark Angel's** first studio album since 1991, *Extinction Level Event*, is out on Reversed Records on September 5th. Exclusive pre-order options, included signed physical copies of the album and a red color variant vinyl, are available at the link below. [Preorder Dark Angel's Extinction Level Event](https://store.reversedrecords.com/collections/extinction-level-event?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) The group will also hit the road in support of their new record on September 5th, their first North American headlining tour in over three decades. Ticket information can be found here. [See Dark Angel Live!](https://www.ticketmaster.com/dark-angel-tickets/artist/719665?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/08/Screen-Shot-2025-08-29-at-2.10.07-PM.png) **Death to All** will start a tour across North America celebrating *Spiritual Healing* and *Symbolic* on November 4th. All ticket information can be found at the link below. [Get Tickets to Death to All's Spiritual Healing Tour](https://www.ticketmaster.com/death-to-all-tickets/artist/2795572?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/08/Screen-Shot-2025-08-29-at-1.11.34-PM.png) ---