TESTAMENT Taps Drummer GENE HOGLAN For Select Dates On ANTHRAX Tour

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT have tapped Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan (ex-DARK ANGEL, ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK) to join them on the road for select dates on their upcoming co-headlining tour with ANTHRAX. Gene will sit behind the kit for TESTAMENT from October 28 through November 13; the remainining dates will see TESTAMENT joined by John Tempesta (EXODUS, WHITE ZOMBIE, ROB ZOMBIE, HELMET, THE CULT).

Commented Hoglan: "As many of you know, I just played on the new TESTAMENT record, 'Dark Roots Of Earth', which went amazingly well. The dudes were kind enough ask me to join them for a couple weeks on this tour with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL. I'm super-stoked to do the shows. It's going to be a great time.

"Just so everybody knows, I will be selling my drum instructional DVD, 'The Atomic Clock', at the shows (shameless plug). If you can't make it out to one of the shows, buy it online!"

Hoglan previously played drums on TESTAMENT's 1997 album, "Demonic", but didn't stick around long enough to do any touring with the band.

TESTAMENT's U.S. tour with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL is scheduled to kick off on October 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Due to a "serious injury," regular TESTAMENT drummer Paul Bostaph is unable to take part in the tour. Paul was also absent from the recording sessions for TESTAMENT's new album, "The Dark Roots Of Earth", tentatively due in February 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented Tempesta: "I haven't left THE CULT. I'm just helping these guys [TESTAMENT] out for this tour since Paul is still injured."

Although Tempesta recorded only two studio albums with TESTAMENT (1994's "Low" and 2001's "First Strike Still Deadly", a collection of re-recordings of songs from "The Legacy" and "The New Order"),he left a lasting impression on TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson. "John is definitely one of the best drummers in the country," Peterson remarked. "He has the power of John Bonham, the finesse of Carter Beauford, and the aggression of Dave Lombardo. As a drummer, John really has it all."

SADUS drummer Jon Allen sat behind the kit for TESTAMENT when the band performed in the place of IN FLAMES at the first two shows of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on July 9 in San Bernardino, California and on July 10 in Mountain View, California as well as on the group's recently completed South American tour.

TESTAMENT has announced that it will again be offering special VIP/Meet-And-Greet Packs on its upcoming co-headlining tour with ANTHRAX with support from DEATH ANGEL. This is your chance to spend intimate, quality time with TESTAMENT up close and personal!

TESTAMENT offered these packs on last year's monumental "American Carnage" tour (also featuring MEGADETH and SLAYER),which presented fans with a unique and exclusive chance to spend time with the band before doors opened, take photos and get autographs, throw up the horns, and chat. This year with the VIP/Meet-And-Greet Packs, fans will have another chance to hang out, sign autographs and take photos with the band, as well as have access to a ticket to their performance, special merchandise hand-picked by the band, and a collectible TESTAMENT laminate to commemorate this ultimate fan experience!

TESTAMENT Meet-And-Greet Package includes (full details):

* One General Admission ticket
* Meet-and-greet with select members of TESTAMENT
* Photo with select members of TESTAMENT
* Autograph opportunity with select members of TESTAMENT
* TESTAMENT merchandise items*
- T-shirt of your choice from the merch booth (before doors open)
- Opportunity to purchase a second item at half off from the merch booth (before doors open)
- Assorted guitar picks
- Wristband
- Rare, out of print "Live At The Filmore" cassette
- Original printing of "Demonic" CD
* Collectible TESTAMENT laminate

For more information on how to obtain your special VIP/Meet-And-Greet Pack, head over to www.slotix.com now!

"We love connecting with our fans and showing them same the respect and admiration they show us year after year," states vocalist Chuck Billy. "Hanging out and talking to the fans was a phenomenal experience for everyone last year. It was a first for us as well as the fans. It's a great way to join us at the shows in celebration of all that is heavy metal and to make a personal connection with us, so come hang out and commemorate this great tour!"