Gene Hoglan 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.
• Gene's Speed Machine
SRX Sessions Series
Carbon Mist finish
24x18 bass drum x 2
13x9 tom
15x13 tom
18x16 floor tom
14x5 Limited Edition 14x6.5 Reference brass snare drum
BZ1450 10-ply birch snare drum
B855W boom stand x 7
H855 hi-hat stand
S985W snare stand
P2000C pedal x 2
T900W double tom stand
D2000 throne
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 recorded several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed/industrial/death metal band Strapping Young Lad and under Devin Townsend's name.
He currently performs with Zimmers Hole, Meldrum, and provides the drums for the popular animated series Metalocalypse.