GENE HOGLAN Says New DARK ANGEL Music Will Arrive 'Before The End Of The Year': 'I'm Really Excited'

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan was asked when fans can expect to hear new music from the band as a follow-up to DARK ANGEL's first new album in 34 years, "Extinction Level Event", was made available digitally in September 2025 via Reversed Records. Gene said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Before the end of the year. And if I am incorrect, then I'm only going to be incorrect by a month or two. And it's very, very exciting news."

Hoglan added: "There's a lot of people that are completely unaware of the last album. The majority of folks are unaware that DARK ANGEL even has an album out. And so for those who are unfamiliar with DARK ANGEL, we're gonna punch you in the face. And for those who are familiar with DARK ANGEL's recent history, you're gonna be going, 'Wait a minute. What? Holy moly. Way to do it this time, DARK ANGEL. Way to go.' That's what I feel. And so I'm really excited. And boy, we are on the absolute cusp of being able to announce some stuff."

In June 2025, DARK ANGEL released "Circular Firing Squad", the second single from "Extinction Level Event". The LP's first single, the "Extinction Level Event" title track, was written by DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim Durkin more than a decade ago, long before he suffered from severe liver disease, and, to the surprise of everyone, passed away in 2023. It was recorded and mixed at the Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, executive produced by Hoglan, produced and engineered by Rob Shallcross and mixed by Mike Fraser.

Upon its arrival in April 2025, the "Extinction Level Event" title track was met with a mixed response from DARK ANGEL's longtime fans, with Metal Forces magazine calling the song, and the rest of the album, "one of the most disappointing and insulting comebacks since ABBA."

Durkin died on March 8, 2023 at the age of 58. An original member of DARK ANGEL, Durkin played on the band's first three albums — 1985's "We Have Arrived", 1986's "Darkness Descends" and 1989's "Leave Scars" — before departing the group in 1989. He was part of DARK ANGEL's lineup when the band reformed in 2013, and had been playing with them, on and off, ever since.

Prior to his death, Durkin had been sitting out some of DARK ANGEL's gigs. He was replaced at the shows by Hoglan's wife Laura Christine, who has since joined DARK ANGEL as a permanent member.

Hoglan and Christine wrote everything except for the title track on "Extinction Level Event". Other songs that appeared on the effort include "Atavistic", which was described as "a full-on three-minute thrash metal barrage", "Woke Up To Blood", the title of which stemmed from a dog attack, and "Terror Construct", which Gene wrote about the way the media and corporations team up to spread fear among the masses so they can continue to fill their pockets.

The seeds of "Extinction Level Event" were planted in late 2013 between the time when TESTAMENT stopped touring to work on their new record and Hoglan was scheduled to work on his next major project. After the first batch of writing sessions for "Extinction Level Event", Hoglan had to put writing for DARK ANGEL on hold until late 2022. With other obligations behind him, Gene laser-focused on DARK ANGEL, listening back to the jams he and Durkin made earlier, and writing more than 10 new songs over the next three months. With a full album of new songs, Hoglan flew to Vancouver to track the album at the Armory. There, he and his bandmates worked with Rob Shallcross and Mike Fraser, and over a few sessions, DARK ANGEL had recorded everything but the vocals.