In the heavy shadows of Hellfest in Clisson, France, Gene Hoglan spoke not only as one of metal’s most powerful drummers but as a man who had shaped his life around one simple yet profound lesson. For decades, Hoglan has been the driving force behind some of metal’s most ferocious acts, including Testament, Dark Angel, Strapping Young Lad, and Death. But beyond his thunderous double-kick patterns and technical mastery, what defines him most is a philosophy that was shaped in a single, unguarded conversation when he was just a teenager.

Years ago, as a fifteen-year-old armed with nothing but the keys to his parents’ car and his wide-eyed ambition, Gene Hoglan offered a ride to a drummer from a rising Los Angeles band. What followed was an unexpected glimpse into the cutthroat mindset that would go on to shape and ruin many careers. The older musician, riding the early wave of local radio play and poised for stardom, laid bare his philosophy: step on whoever is necessary, burn bridges, exploit friendships, all in the name of personal gain. Instead of inspiring Hoglan, it horrified him. At that moment, he resolved to build a life and a career on the exact opposite principle.

That lesson became the foundation for everything that followed. Rather than clawing his way to the top, Hoglan chose to extend his hand. Whether connecting a friend to a record label or recommending another drummer for a gig, he lived by the belief that community builds success far more lasting than selfish ambition. His generosity, far from weakening his career, opened doors across the metal landscape. From his early days in the chaotic L.A. scene of the 1980s, where bands like Ratt, Great White, and Mötley Crüe were cutting their teeth, to his pivotal role in some of thrash and death metal’s most influential albums, Hoglan remained a steady presence in an often unstable industry.

Today, with Dark Angel poised to release Extinction Level Event, their first album in 34 years, Hoglan’s story comes full circle. The album carries the fingerprints of the late Jim Durkin, Hoglan’s guitar hero and lifelong collaborator, whose passing in 2023 left a void in the band’s soul. Yet through loss, Hoglan has kept Durkin’s vision alive, writing riffs and lyrics with the question always in his mind: “What would Jim do here?” The new album, shaped in part by his wife Laura Christine’s contributions, is a living tribute to that friendship and shared musical legacy.

Gene Hoglan’s journey is not just a catalog of bands and albums but a rare example of a career built on integrity in an industry where ego so often dictates the narrative. His lesson remains simple, yet too often forgotten: lift others as you climb, and your work will speak louder than ambition ever could.