Leave Scars Drum Setup: Gene Hoglan's Groove-Within-Speed Mastery (Dark Angel, 1989) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Gene Hoglan use on Leave Scars?

Gene Hoglan recorded Dark Angel's Leave Scars (1989) using a Tama Rockstar kit — an upgrade from the Tama Imperialstar he used on Darkness Descends (1986). His configuration retained the twin 22" x 16" bass drum setup for independent double-kick, with 10" and 12" rack toms and 14" and 16" floor toms. His snare remained the Ludwig Acrolite aluminum model at 14" x 5" — a consistent choice throughout his Dark Angel era for its bright, cutting crack at extreme speeds. Pedals were Tama Iron Cobra single models, one per bass drum.

What cymbals did Gene Hoglan use on Leave Scars?

Gene Hoglan switched from Zildjian A Series to Paiste 2002 cymbals for Dark Angel's Leave Scars (1989) — the most significant gear change from the Darkness Descends setup. The 2002 series setup included 14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" and 18" Medium Crashes, a 20" Medium Ride, and an 18" Novo China. The Paiste 2002's CuSn8 bronze alloy produces a drier, faster-decaying tone compared to Zildjian's warmer B20 alloys — a sonic choice that aligned with the cleaner, more defined production approach Bill Metoyer applied to the 1989 sessions.

What did Gene Hoglan record between Darkness Descends and Individual Thought Patterns?

Between Dark Angel's Darkness Descends (1986) and Death's Individual Thought Patterns (1993), Gene Hoglan recorded two more Dark Angel studio albums: Leave Scars (1989) and Time Does Not Heal (1991). Both were recorded at Track Record Studios in North Hollywood with producer Bill Metoyer and released on Combat Records. Leave Scars is considered the album where Hoglan's groove development fully emerged within his extreme speed framework. Time Does Not Heal was Dark Angel's most compositionally complex and final studio album before the band dissolved in 1992.