Veteran metal drummer Gene Hoglan has no plans to retire anytime soon. In a recent interview published August 4 by Strefa Music Art, the 57-year-old musician stated that he intends to continue performing well into his eighties, as long as his health allows.
“As long as I just remain healthy, I see no problem with pummeling people until my eighties,” Hoglan said in the interview
Gene Hoglan has spent over 40 years performing with a number of well-known metal bands, including Dark Angel, Dethklok, Testament, and Strapping Young Lad. Gene Hoglan has spent over 40 years performing with a number of well-known metal bands, including Dark Angel, Dethklok, Testament, and Strapping Young Lad. Widely regarded for his speed and technical skill behind the drums, he earned the nickname “The Atomic Clock” from fans and peers alike.
In the recent interview, Hoglan discussed his physical health and ability to continue playing demanding material. He said that age has not significantly affected his stamina or timing and that he still feels fully capable of handling the intensity required for live shows. He explained that while touring for orchestral or film score projects, such as those by composer Bear McCreary, is physically less demanding, transitioning back to faster and more aggressive metal performances remains well within his capability.
A few years ago, Hoglan had publicly expressed the goal of performing into his seventies. He now says that the estimate has been extended.
“Seventy, seventy-five, even eighty: that’s my intent,” he said, adding that he does not see any immediate reason to slow down.
Hoglan’s comments come as Dark Angel prepares to release Extinction Level Event, the band’s first studio album in 34 years. The album is scheduled to arrive later in 2025 and includes material written by founding guitarist Jim Durkin, who passed away in March 2023. Hoglan, who served as executive producer on the record, said that the album’s production approach prioritized a raw and authentic sound, with live takes and minimal digital editing.
“It sounds like a band jamming,” he told, contrasting the process with modern production methods that heavily rely on grid-aligned editing and digital effects.
Extinction Level Event marks an important milestone for Dark Angel and for Hoglan personally. The new material includes contributions from Durkin, who had returned to writing for the band before his passing. According to Hoglan, the record reflects both a return to form and a tribute to Durkin’s legacy.
Looking back, Hoglan admitted that when he was first recording Darkness Descends in the 1980s, he did not anticipate still playing drums professionally more than 40 years later.
Now, with new material on the way and no signs of retirement, Hoglan continues to be a unique figure in heavy metal, maintaining a level of performance that defies age expectations.