THE BEAST

Gene Hoglan of Dark Angel Joins The Zach Moonshine Show – Talks New Album Extinction Level Event , Jim Durkin Tribute, Slayer Memories, and Hilarious Road Stories

On May 9th, 2025, the legendary Dark Angel drummer Gene Hoglan —affectionately dubbed “ The Atomic Clock ” for his world-renowned precision—joined The Zach Moonshine Show for an unmissable live interview. Hoglan delivered a candid and wide-ranging conversation that offered fans an intimate look into the past, present, and future of Dark Angel , one of thrash metal’s most iconic bands.

New Music from Dark Angel: Extinction Level Event

Hoglan confirmed that Dark Angel is officially back with a vengeance. Their latest single, “Extinction Level Event,” marks a thunderous return, and a full-length album is confirmed for release by the end of 2025 .

“We are finally moving forward on getting the new Dark Angel album Extinction Level Event out,” Hoglan said. “It’s coming to everybody really soon — definitely before the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.”

The album will feature unreleased compositions by Jim Durkin , the band’s founding guitarist who sadly passed away in 2023. Hoglan spoke emotionally about the impact of Durkin’s songwriting on the new material.

“Jim took me aside one time and said, ‘Hey man, I’ve got this song that I wrote. If we ever get a chance to record with Dark Angel again, this is my most Dark Angel -esque song,’” Gene shared. “It was so killer, so catchy—so Jim Durkin.”

Slayer Stories, Drum Lessons, and High-Speed Cop Chases

Beyond the music, the interview took a wildly entertaining turn as Hoglan recounted hilarious and jaw-dropping stories from the glory days of thrash metal.

One standout tale involved Slayer and an early studio session:

“I was hanging around with Slayer a lot back in the day,” Gene said. “I even sang on the first Slayer record and gave Dave Lombardo some early double-bass drum tips—back when he was still getting the hang of it.”

And then there’s the now-legendary water pistol incident from Dark Angel 's tour in 1989, when their RV was surrounded by a dozen cop cars in Dunsmuir, California:

“The cops thought we were a rolling meth lab because someone saw us waving what they thought were real guns,” Gene laughed. “Turns out, they were toy water pistols we bought in Utah that looked super realistic. The cops were furious—they thought they had the bust of the year. I just wanted to take a nap and ended up face-down on the pavement with rifles aimed at me… But hey, I did get a good 15-minute nap out of it!”

The Legacy of Dark Angel and the Road Ahead

The interview touched on Dark Angel ’s early days at Downey High School, their rise alongside peers like Metallica , and their influence through classic albums like Darkness Descends and Time Does Not Heal . Hoglan also discussed his work with Death , Strapping Young Lad , Dethklok , and Testament , offering fans a look behind the curtain of some of metal’s most groundbreaking bands.

Hoglan also revealed that the new Dark Angel album will feature comic book-style artwork , with panel-based designs visually reflecting the themes and lyrics of the songs — a unique touch that adds to the album’s storytelling.

Don’t miss the full interview with Gene Hoglan on The Zach Moonshine Show , now available on all streaming platforms and podcast services. For fans of thrash metal , Slayer , Testament , Death , or any of Hoglan’s legendary projects — this episode is a must-hear.

Track List:

Battle Of The Bands Winners:

1 - Vyr Muk - Era of Rot - (150,583 votes)
2 - Virya - Seed Of Doubt - (93,244 votes)
3 - Dysphoros - Lifeless - (804 votes)

The Zach Moonshine Intro

4 - The Red Mountain - Your Decay
5 - Frayle - Sacrifant
6 - EYEHATEGOD - Agitation! Propaganda! (LIVE)
7 - EXHORDER - Desecrator (Live)
8 - Testament - Night Of The Witch

DARK ANGEL - Interview featuring EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT/Act of Contrition/Leave Scars (Live)

9 - Strapping Young Lad - Aftermath/Bring On The Young/Love?
10 - Death - Jealousy/The Philosopher/Zero Tolerance
11 - Gravehuffer - Destroyer (Twisted Sister cover)
12 - Autumn Lies Buried - Told Off Witta Sawed Off Feat. FILTH
13 - Filth - Chin Check
14 - Larcenia Roe - Carolina Crowd Killer (feat. Dustin of Filth)
15 - Behemoth - Sowing.Salt
16 - Arsenic Addiction - Miseria
17 - Blood Desecration - Demonvangelist (Feat Nick Alan)
18 - Stormbreaker - Femme Fatale
19 - King Parrot - Get What Ya Given
20 - Last ii - Cloud Connected - In Flames Cover
21 - Allie Riot - Gimme Some Head (GG Allin)/Cherry Bomb
22 - Post Death Soundtrack - DESERT WIND
23 - Epic Death - Warrior
24 - Desolator - Call Of The Void
25 - KILL ALL THE GENTLEMEN - Come Die With Me
26 - Bangover - Scum of the Earth
27 - Alarum - The Visitor

Streaming now on Mixcloud!

Also check out the isolated interview on YouTube, Spotify, Apple!

Super massive thanks to the 71,279 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in live to the broadcast with us Friday night!

Go grab the new single here and support! https://store.reversedrecords.com/products/extinction-level-event-single