Gene Hoglan |
Eugene (Gene) Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is a well-known American heavy metal drummer. He is famous for his technical playing - that is, executing complex patterns on the drums - at extremely high speeds. In 1984, Hoglan began his music career as a roadie (lights engineer) for the seminal thrash metal band Slayer, where he also played the drummer during the soundcheck. At the end of the same year he was asked to join the thrash metal band Dark Angel as the drummer. He penned most of the lyrics for Dark Angels' next two albums. He achieved greater notoriety during the mid-1990s playing with Death, at the same time that bandleader Chuck Schuldiner was taking that group into a more progressive style. 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. He has since recorded several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed/industrial/death metal band Strapping Young Lad and under Devin Townsend's name. Hoglan is part of a death metal band called Tenet, the brainchild of Strapping Young Lad guitarist Jed Simon. The band has been signed to Century Media Records but has not yet recorded an album. In 2004, Hoglan stood in for Martin Lopez of the famous progressive death metal band Opeth for the Vancouver, British Columbia show on Opeth's Lamentations tour who was said to be having panic attacks. Opeth's drum tech had filled in for the previous dates on the tour and Martin Lopez rejoined the band for the Seattle, Washington show. In 2005, Hoglan stood in once again for Martin Lopez for the majority of the Sounds of the Underground Tour when Lopez began having more panic attacks. Hoglan played double duty by playing a set with Strapping Young Lad then later that night performing with Opeth. It was later announced Lopez had a rare blood disorder and was seeking treatment. Hoglan also appears 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. Today, Hoglan spends much of his time with Testament. Since guitarist Eric Peterson writes the music, the drummer simply has to take direction - which he has no problem doing - and then when the band hits the road, Hoglan simply sits behind the kit and provides the necessary thunder and finesse to the band's pummeling melodic thrash. Gene Hoglan is completely self-taught. |
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