Guitar Gear Forum

Good evening,

Testament has released the following statement:

To all our Testament fans around the world,
First off, we are beyond grateful to have had Gene Hoglan behind our drum throne for ten years, several albums and countless tour dates. Unfortunately, our brother Gene’s additional tours and solo endeavors in 2022 conflict insurmountably with Testament’s rescheduled dates after two years of lost time due to the pandemic. Rather than Testament having to reschedule upcoming dates (yet again) or Gene having to cancel his own plans, we have decided to amicably part ways. We understand that this announcement will cause some disappointment but rest assured: There is no drama, only the best of vibes between us. As Gene embarks upon a new chapter, we thank him from the bottom of our hearts for bringing the most powerful drum beats to Testament and heavy metal. We have no doubt he will continue to bring it as only he can. Gene will always be family and we ask all of you to join us in wishing him only the best of luck going forward.
Also rest assure that we will continue to deliver yet another top notch addition to Testament and will reveal soon. We will see you all on tour very soon.”

I’m disappointed; Gene Hoglan is a monster on the drums, and fit Testament’s style incredibly well. If he were available, I would love nothing more than for Dave Lombardo to return to the fold.

Thank you.

Yeah, Lombardo is my choice too.

I don't know if I'm disappointed in this one or not. While Gene is a monster, his Testament performances feel rather laid-back compared to his performance in other bands or his own work. It'll be cool to see what Gene's got, and to see who's next for Testament. Lombardo would be great, but there's several drummers out there that could swing the gig and add something to the overall sound of the band.

Lombardo is always the answer. Someone elsewhere mentioned getting John Tempesta back (which would be killer as well) but I am not so sure how he would fare on some of the Gene era stuff? Gene is still, well; Gene \m/

1) Dave Lombardo
2) Chris Adler

He's joining my blackened ragtime band

I guess that's bound to happen when you work in so many bands. Hoglan is a beast. He's kind of always laid back with his drumming as a style. I've always really dug the guy and he makes it look effortless.

I am always shocked when I see his name pop-up, and all the accolades he gets. He used to hang out at my high school trying to pick up girls, and I always thought he was just a fat, long-haired nothing. Kinda shocking.

Tortuga wrote:I am always shocked when I see his name pop-up, and all the accolades he gets. He used to hang out at my high school trying to pick up girls, and I always thought he was just a fat, long-haired nothing. Kinda shocking.

Dude! Have you ever heard him play?

1. Darkness Descends
2. Strapping Young Lad
3. Death
4. Testament

Dude is a beast.

I got to meet him after an SYL show. Coolest dude ever, and easily my favorite metal drummer ever yet built

Devin wrote:I got to meet him after an SYL show. Coolest dude ever, and easily my favorite metal drummer ever yet built

One of my friends and me hung with him before the freebie Dethklok show in Vermillion. He's about the most chill metal drummer I've ever met. Most come across like cokeheads on a binge before a show. He's just leaned up against a semi-trailer chit-chatting like we're old buddies.

Dude's also a monster. At the time I was 6'2" and around 350 and he towered over me and made me feel good about my weight.

Devin wrote:I got to meet him after an SYL show. Coolest dude ever, and easily my favorite metal drummer ever yet built

Yes. We did a pay to play with SYL and Gene signed my copy of Darkness Descends

Talk about effortless drumming. Dude is blasting away and just whistling like it's nothing and not breaking a sweat. It's pretty impressive.

JiveTurkey wrote:

Devin wrote:I got to meet him after an SYL show. Coolest dude ever, and easily my favorite metal drummer ever yet built

Yes. We did a pay to play with SYL and Gene signed my copy of Darkness Descends

Holy crap that is awesome! I'd have definitely payed to play on the same bill as SYL too

nightflameauto wrote:Dude's also a monster. At the time I was 6'2" and around 350 and he towered over me and made me feel good about my weight.

Yesss he is an absolute giant haha.

Glad to see he lost a lot of weight; it was absolutely astonishing to see a dude that big unleashing the fookin fury to effortlessly I was always scared the dude would keel over from a heart attack

JiveTurkey wrote:

Tortuga wrote:I am always shocked when I see his name pop-up, and all the accolades he gets. He used to hang out at my high school trying to pick up girls, and I always thought he was just a fat, long-haired nothing. Kinda shocking.

Dude! Have you ever heard him play?

1. Darkness Descends
2. Strapping Young Lad
3. Death
4. Testament

Dude is a beast.

I think he may have been in Dark Angel back in high school (84/85). Never saw them, though.

Actually, he may have been in testament when I saw them in 2012 opening for anthrax.

2012? Testament was touring Dark Roots of Earth, which indeed had Gene Hoglan on drums.

Tortuga wrote:

JiveTurkey wrote:

Tortuga wrote:I am always shocked when I see his name pop-up, and all the accolades he gets. He used to hang out at my high school trying to pick up girls, and I always thought he was just a fat, long-haired nothing. Kinda shocking.

Dude! Have you ever heard him play?

1. Darkness Descends
2. Strapping Young Lad
3. Death
4. Testament

Dude is a beast.

I think he may have been in Dark Angel back in high school (84/85). Never saw them, though.

Actually, he may have been in testament when I saw them in 2012 opening for anthrax.

I think he joined in 86 before their second album. Which is really the only you need, imo.

Fast stuff:


Slow stuff:



Fast stuff:


Vibey stuff:



Tech-y stuff:


More Tech-y stuff:




That time Testament (well Chuck at least) went too death metal and everyone complained but it was actually awesome:


Some more of that good stuff \m/:

And, as of today, Gene Hoglan’s replacement in Testament is Dave Lombardo. I do hope that they hit Wisconsin on this tour.

Excellent news \m/ You have to have a ace up your sleeve if you are going to replace Hoglan and Lombardo qualifies x 1000 on that.

andvari7 wrote:And, as of today, Gene Hoglan’s replacement in Testament is Dave Lombardo.

Fuck yea