# Brotherhood of the Snake Drum Setup: Gene Hoglan Returns to Testament (2016)

> Gene Hoglan's return to Testament after 22 years — Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) drum setup breakdown. Pearl Reference Series drums, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, DW 9000 pedals, and the Grammy-nominated comeback album that cemented The Atomic Clock's legacy.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Gene Hoglan](/llms/drummers/gene-hoglan.md)
**Band / Album:** Testament — *Brotherhood of the Snake* (2016)
**Genre:** Thrash Metal

## Overview

When Testament released "Brotherhood of the Snake" on October 28, 2016, it marked Gene Hoglan's return to the band after a 22-year absence — his last Testament albums had been "Low" (1994) and "The Gathering" (1999). The reunion was one of modern thrash metal's most anticipated comebacks, and the album delivered: debuting at #14 on the Billboard 200 and producing "The Pale King," nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

Recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland with producer Juan Urteaga, "Brotherhood of the Snake" found Hoglan in his definitive modern gear era: Pearl Reference Series drums, Zildjian A Custom cymbals, and DW 9000 pedals. Where his 1990s Testament work caught him in a period of gear flux, this album represents a fully refined, mature Hoglan — technically ferocious and sonically authoritative.

For his complete career gear evolution, see the [gene-hoglan-drum-setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/gene-hoglan-drum-setup) overview. His Death-era recordings are documented in [symbolic-drum-setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/symbolic-drum-setup) and [individual-thought-patterns-drum-setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/individual-thought-patterns-drum-setup).

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (16-ply maple/birch hybrid)
- **Configuration:** Two 22" x 18" bass drums (independent double kick), 10" x 8" rack tom, 12" x 9" rack tom, 14" x 14" floor tom, 16" x 16" floor tom
- **Snare:** Pearl Reference Brass, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" Hi-Hats, 16" Crash, 18" Crash, 19" Crash, 20" Ride, 18" China
- **Pedals:** DW 9000 Single Pedals (one per bass drum)
- **Sticks:** Promark TX5BW (5B Wood Tip)
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (snare batter), Remo Emperor Clear (tom batter), Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass drum batter)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high for authority and articulation across high-tempo passages
- **Estimated kit value:** $5,000–7,000 (2016)

### Pearl Reference Series: The Modern Era Flagship

The Pearl Reference Series is Pearl's professional flagship, built around a 16-ply maple/birch hybrid shell that balances warmth with attack. By 2016, Hoglan had been a Pearl endorser for years, and this album represents the fullest expression of that configuration. The twin 22" x 18" bass drums — independent instruments, not a double pedal — remained the cornerstone of his setup, providing the foot independence that defines his rhythmic philosophy. The four-tom spread (10", 12", 14", 16") gave him the melodic fill vocabulary audible throughout "Brotherhood of the Snake": tom fills as compositional hooks, not just transitions.

### Pearl Reference Brass Snare

The brass shell delivered a full-bodied, cutting crack with warm midrange — distinct from the brighter steel snares of Hoglan's 1990s recordings. At 14" x 6.5", it provided authority for crushing backbeats while retaining sensitivity for ghost notes. The Grammy-nominated track "The Pale King" showcases this snare particularly clearly — prominent in a spacious mix where every dynamic nuance is audible.

### Zildjian A Custom Cymbals

Hoglan's cymbal evolution moved from the traditional A Series (warm, hand-hammered, used on the Death albums) to the A Custom Series (computer-assisted hammering, brighter, more uniform). The A Custom line's brilliant finish and tighter hammering pattern produces a cleaner, more defined sound at high tempos — essential for the 160-200 BPM passages throughout the album. Three crashes (16", 18", 19") offered graduated dynamic options; the 20" ride provided texture in sustained groove sections.

### DW 9000 Pedals

Hoglan's DW 9000 single pedals — one per bass drum — represent the high end of DW's pedal lineup: cam-driven with fully adjustable throw angle, board weight, and spring tension. At the speeds executed throughout "Brotherhood of the Snake," the 9000's smooth, consistent response made it the natural choice for a drummer who relies on acoustic precision rather than electronic enhancement.

## Key Facts

- Gene Hoglan returned to Testament after 22 years (last albums: Low 1994, The Gathering 1999)
- Recorded at Sharkbite Studios, Oakland, with producer Juan Urteaga
- "The Pale King" nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards
- Album debuted at #14 on the Billboard 200 — Testament's highest chart position in decades
- Released October 28, 2016, on Nuclear Blast Records
- Pearl Reference Series kit with independent twin 22" x 18" bass drums
- Zildjian A Custom cymbals — Hoglan's modern era (distinct from A Series on Death albums)
- DW 9000 single pedals — one per bass drum, independent setup
- Minimal bass drum triggering — organic performance captured acoustically
- Grammy nomination marked Hoglan's first as featured performer on a nominated track
- Estimated kit value: $5,000–7,000 (2016)

## FAQ

**Q: What drums did Gene Hoglan use on Brotherhood of the Snake?**
A: Gene Hoglan recorded Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) using a Pearl Reference Series kit — Pearl's professional flagship built around a 16-ply maple/birch hybrid shell. His configuration included two 22" x 18" bass drums for his signature independent double-kick setup, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms. His snare was a Pearl Reference Brass model at 14" x 6.5". Cymbals were Zildjian A Custom series, and he used DW 9000 single pedals on each bass drum.

**Q: Why did Gene Hoglan return to Testament?**
A: Gene Hoglan returned to Testament for Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) after a 22-year absence — his last albums with the band had been Low (1994) and The Gathering (1999). The reunion came after Testament's previous drummer Paul Bostaph departed. Hoglan had maintained a relationship with Testament throughout his absence, occasionally filling in on tour dates. The Brotherhood of the Snake sessions gave the band the opportunity to record with one of thrash metal's most celebrated drummers in his mature, peak modern era. The result debuted at #14 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination.

**Q: Was Brotherhood of the Snake Grammy-nominated?**
A: Yes — "The Pale King," a track from Brotherhood of the Snake, was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards. That year's winner was Megadeth for "Dystopia." The nomination marked Gene Hoglan's first Grammy nomination as a featured performer on a nominated track — institutional recognition long overdue for one of extreme metal's most influential drummers. The nomination also introduced Brotherhood of the Snake to mainstream music audiences unfamiliar with Testament's catalog.

**Q: How does Gene Hoglan's Brotherhood of the Snake setup differ from his Death-era gear?**
A: The gear evolution is significant. On Death's Individual Thought Patterns (1993), Hoglan used a DW Collector's Series kit with Zildjian A Series cymbals and DW 5000 pedals. On Symbolic (1995), he moved to Tama Artstar II drums. By Brotherhood of the Snake (2016), he had settled into his definitive modern Pearl Reference Series configuration with Zildjian A Custom cymbals and DW 9000 pedals — a more refined, projection-focused setup suited to thrash metal's sonic requirements and modern recording environments.

## Related

- [Gene Hoglan drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/gene-hoglan-drum-setup) — Complete career gear overview
- [Symbolic drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/symbolic-drum-setup) — Hoglan's Death masterpiece (1995)
- [Individual Thought Patterns drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/individual-thought-patterns-drum-setup) — Hoglan's Death debut (1993)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/brotherhood-of-the-snake-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*