In a recent interview, legendary metal drummer Gene Hoglan shared an anecdote that offers a fresh glimpse into the early days of thrash metal and a surprising link to one of Metallica’s most iconic tracks. Gene Hoglan, widely recognized for his work with Dark Angel, revealed that Lars Ulrich once told him directly that he had borrowed a drum beat from one of Hoglan’s songs. That beat, according to the exchange, ended up on Metallica’s 1986 track “Battery.”
The conversation, as Gene Hoglan recalls it, took place during the mid-1980s when both Metallica and Dark Angel were active in the same fast-growing metal scene. It wasn’t a confrontation. There was no tension. Just a casual comment, passed between peers who respected each other’s work.
“He just came over and said, ‘Hey man, I kind of lifted one of your drum beats from one of your songs,’” Hoglan said, smiling at the memory. “I was like, ‘That’s cool, man. Thanks for telling me.”
Hoglan didn’t identify the specific song where the beat originated, and Ulrich, to date, hasn’t elaborated on it publicly. Still, many fans have speculated that the inspiration may have come from Dark Angel’s early catalog, tracks known for their high-speed structure and tightly controlled aggression. The opening drum part on “Battery” features that same kind of momentum: fast, focused, and relentless.
Instead of framing the story as a complaint, Hoglan treated it as a sign of mutual influence. To him, it wasn’t about claiming ownership or raising eyebrows. It was simply one drummer acknowledging the impact of another, and Hoglan said he appreciated the honesty.
In the world of metal, few drummers have a résumé like Hoglan’s. Beyond his early work with Dark Angel, he’s been a driving force behind acts like Death, Testament, Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok, and Fear Factory. Known for his precision and sheer technical ability, Hoglan has long stood out in a genre where speed and accuracy go hand in hand. His nickname, “The Atomic Clock,” speaks to just how consistent and powerful his playing is.
Ulrich, on the other hand, has played a different role. As a founding member of Metallica, he’s not only shaped the band’s sound behind the kit but has also guided their direction as a songwriter and producer. While his drumming style has often divided opinion, particularly among technically inclined fans, no one disputes his role in shaping heavy metal’s mainstream rise.
What Hoglan’s story shows is a glimpse into a time when musicians shared ideas more freely, before the lines between influence and imitation became so tightly policed. The 1980s metal scene was still growing, still taking shape. Bands fed off one another, learned from what they heard, and sometimes borrowed without ceremony.
“It was never about stealing,” Hoglan said. “It was about inspiring each other. That’s how music works.”
In the end, the beat that found its way into “Battery” didn’t just become part of Metallica’s legacy, it became part of a broader conversation between drummers who were all trying to push the same boundaries.