Ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drum legend Gene Hoglan has issued the following update on his current activities:

"Howdy folks. Well, where to start? There's just too much stuff going on at the moment to remember, let alone catalogue in any sort of abridged manner, so I'll just dive in chronologically I suppose...

I'm here in Vancouver, mainly to complete the editing of my forthcoming DVD, The Atomic Clock. Wow, original title, eh? If I had just concentrated on double-bass on it, I might have called it Evil Is A Foot, but since I do way more than just metal drumming on it, I figured The Atomic Clock just fits. And, I am still shooting for a July release, available at first on my websites.

Let me tell ya, it's coming out great! I'm really psyched! It's gonna clock in at about two hours, and hopefully they're gonna be an entertaining two hours for all. Upon it's completion, I'll have a more detailed blurb about it. Say, haven't ya heard that one before?

I'm also up here completing the mix for the MECHANISM album, who will be featured heavily on said The Atomic Clock DVD. That is coming out righteous, as well. I'm super-pumped for this one. I'll say this a million times, but this is probably my craziest drum album to date. As of yet, we have no finished product to share with anyone, and I'm pretty glad about that fact. Hopefully it'll drop like a bomb. Or at least a well-placed M-80.

Also while I am here, I've been enlisted to perform all the drums on Jed's TENET record. I'm not at liberty to reveal any of the particulars on 'why', but, suffice it to say, I'm gonna kick the shit outta them drums, all for my bro, Jedly. It's gonna be killer!

We're also wrapping up the tracking for Mr. Plow's forthcoming Apocalypse Plow release. That's a real fun project for me, and I'll even showcase a song from it on the dvd, too. This project features the inimitable Mr. Norwood Fisher (FISHBONE) on bass, the legendary Rocky George (SUICIDAL/FISHBONE) on guitar, plus a cast which includes Oderous From GWAR (can't swing a dead cat without being on a record with him these days), punk legends Joey Shithead (DOA) and Chi Pig (SNFU), and a host of others. Fun, acoustic/punk/folk with puerile lyrics. And extremely catchy songs that will stick in your head like a fungus. Or an anal probe. Hey! BRAINAL PROBE. A 'cool', or, 'incredibly stupid' band name up for grabs there...

We've also got some music from one of my other bands up here. PITCH BLACK FORECAST, started in Cleveland by my good buddy Jason Popson (ex-MUSHROOMHEAD). Originally this project was going to be me and him, plus a guest guitarist per song. Sean from HATEBREED, Trevor from OBITUARY, Ben from DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, Scott from PIG DESTROYER and a few others all signed on, and Frederick from MESHUGGAH gave us a tune, but it quickly evolved into more of a band than a mere 'one-off project' when we recruited our bro Bobby Reinard on guitar. We wrote and recorded 17 songs in seven days, and though it's not re-inventing the wheel by any means, it is a heavy project that duly captures all that Jason loves about metal. Most importantly, 'the Chop'. A lot of breakdowns, and ripping metal. We're gonna shop it around for a proper release upon completion, then hopefully hit the road sometime in 2008! Punch it up on my 'top friends' dealie over there.

Now, on to my 'band o' bitches', MELDRUM. I believe their latest, Blowin' Up The Machine has been released in Europe already, and is shooting for a September release in the States. Plus, we've got about 13 tracks written for their next one already, and we're looking to jump in the studio as early as August, just to have that new one in the can ASAP. I've said it before, that playing in a band with three hot, horned-up bitches is nothing short of amazing. I am now privy to all those conversations only overheard on 'chicks nite out' and many a male fantasy. And, it is righteous! I have heard some of the most bizarre, unrepeatable, FUCKED-UP shit come outta these girls moufs [sic], alright, mostly Michelle's, that my face actually hurts from laughing after most practices. I love playing with these broads for that reason right there. I don't care if people like them or their music, I love Frida, Moa and Michelle, and they ain't gettin' rid of me anytime soon. Michelle was my best friend 23 years ago, and she's my best friend again. Plus, she's got great tits!

Gene, you are SOOOOO unprofessional...

On to DETHKLOK, I just got to hear the record recently, and it is extremely crushing! Wow, am I impressed! What a killer metal record! I can't wait for everyone else to hear it, and since it has now been slated for a September 25th release, that is now gonna be sooner than later, especially with leakage. And yes, it appears that we are going on tour with it as well! The logistics are being worked on as we speak, but it looks like it's gonna be a real killer, multi-media show. I'm looking real forward to that, I've even suspended the booking of a ton of clinics to clear my schedule to be available.

Now, as for my most recent bit of roadwork, UNEARTH...

I was driving up to Vancouver about a month ago, when I got a call from their management, Ferret, asking if I'd be interested in helping them finish their tour, as they just gave their drummer the heave-ho the night before. Strapping and Unearth have shared the stage on two occasions before, SOTU '05 and Oozefist '06, and I found them all to be great guys. Of course I'm familiar with their music, but as for learning it and playing it on such short notice, hmmm...and no matter what one might say about their music, it is no walk in the park, by any means. There are some serious chops there. And, since I've never been one to back off from a challenge, I said yes.

I stopped by a Best Buy in Salem, Oregon, picked up their two latest discs, and proceeded to crank the metal for the rest of my trip. Jeez, I WAS enjoying my drive, cruisin' along to WAR, Stevie, and Was (not Was), then all of a sudden I'm forced to blast metal. I joke, it was fun.

I arrived in Van on Thursday, had a little rehearsal on Friday, and played the show at the Commodore that night. It was as rough as to be expected, but we got through it okay. Well, the dudes helped ME get through it, should I say. The vision of 'The Wal-Mart Outlaw', Buzz McGrath, running across the stage and 'semaphoring' a snare-roll for me where I was missing it, remains ingrained.

Each day got a little easier, and we were really firing on all cylinders after awhile. I really dug this brief stint, cuz this tour for me was all about music. I'd spend hours whiling away in my bunk, getting their songs down all day long. I always had something to do, to the point of being almost anti-social, on this 'learn-as-you-go' endeavor. I dug it! And now, it looks like I'll be in Australia, New Zealand and Alaska with them next month. Check their Myspace page for details.

It was great to see all my friends in all the other bands and crews. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and I had a really time, and got to have alot of really great conversations about music. A big thank you to all.

Now, for the last item. My shirts are getting printed as we speak, and I will hopefully be unveiling them, as well as my website, genehoglanindustries.com (could I MAKE the domain name any longer?), in the next week to 10 days. And I'll also introduce my new GeneHoglanMusic page here on Myspace.

I'm not even gonna promise that I'm gonna write another one of these soon..."

Thanks for reading,

Gene