HARRY LANGOHR

Austin Lipinski: How old are you and where do you live?
Harry Langohr: Just turned a quarter of a century old. I live on an Island five miles off the treacherous coast of Seattle known as Bainbridge.

AL: What do you like about where you live?
HL: I love the Great Northwest! Blue water and titanic green trees that sway in the salt water air. Plus the city is right there! And I will be moving back to the city soon. I’m gonna clean up that town.

AL: How did you get into metal?
HL: Tough to say. It has been a very progressive thing. You know early on it was just the soft stuff. I couldn’t get enough of Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Dokken and all at that flashy stuff. Especially Scorpions “Love at first sting.” I still love that shit. You know I also have been listening to a lot of W.A.S.P. lately, those guys rule! They have a very unique sound compared to a lot of the glam crap that was out back then. I always thought W.A.S.P. would play well to the rolling credits of some old action movie starring Kurt Russel or something. Anyway soon my blood began to boil and my knuckles flexed and turned white and I began craving the faster and heavier stuff. And it has just gotten worse since then. But bands such as Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Judas Priest; I have been into those bands from the beginning. I always find myself going back to the old stuff I first got into.

AL: Why is it so important to not be a poser?
HL: It is quite simple. It is either life or death, you decide.

AL: Who and/or what are your artistic influences?
HL: There are so many, but most consistently it has been Ed Repka, Jeff Gaither, Frank Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson, Digestor, oh yes… PUTRID!!! and many many more! The deck I put together just recently for you I have thought as sort of a mix of Gaither/Digestor/Pushead influence.

AL: What made you want to start HAZ MAT?
HL: At first it was just another excuse to draw skulls, bones and decay, and get school credit, but it manifested into so much more. I wanted to get involved with the metal/punk/skate culture that has inspired me so much and try to make something out of the attitude, imagery and mentality of it all. Then try to meet some folks along the way who are just as pumped on it as I am, and then try to make them add me as a friend on myspace. But seriously, I always loved the look of old metal/punk horror comic zeens. I felt that those old rags reflected the sound and message so much better than most current metal magazines that you find in grocery stores or wherever with some flashy cover photo of a bunch of assholes flexing their skin-tight t-shirts and gay tattoos.

AL: Who else helps out with the material in HAZ MAT?
HL: In terms of layout, composing interviews, artwork, writing, and hassling people, blah blah blah… it’s kind of a one man show. It wears me out. I mean there are people who submit articles, photos and artwork, and don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for it. It is just tough trying to coordinate it all together. I’ve met some folks out here in Seattle that are very involved with the skate scene and they are super supportive in helping to submit photos, writing and ad space. Marshall “Stack” Reid who runs “Manik” skateboards has been a prime supporter pretty much from the get go. He’s a real nice dude and has some good tales from the old days and he knows a lot of people. Also there is some solid support from the Montana scene. That is where the first issues release party was held. Also “Putrid” has been a huge help with supplying the most ruthless cover art I could ever ask for. He has done a lot for HAZ-MAT and it means a lot. The Wisconsin folk have helped out big time as well. I cant thank those people enough.

AL: What is the toughest thing about creating HAZ MAT?
HL: Making and meeting deadlines, making sure I get everyone to come through with photos, writing, artwork, interviews. Filling the pages up. Selling ad space to fund this mother fucker.

AL: What is the best thing about creating HAZ MAT?
HL: Hearing from people that love it. It is like something you have put your blood, sweat and heart into gets someone pumped thousands of miles away. Getting emails from people saying they somehow got a copy, and they dig it, and they want more! I have never met this person but I can already relate to them just because they are psyched on the same things I am.

AL: If you had your druthers, where would you like to see HAZ MAT go?
HL: For it to one day pay my rent… someday.

AL: Drink of choice?
HL: Capri-Sun

AL: What is the best show you have ever been to?
HL: That’s a tough one. It could have been the first time I ever saw Megadeth, they blew me away and I was right there! But you know, I went to the Tankcrimes Brainsqueeze in Oakland and that was just unreal. Headbanging, circle pits and non-stop stage diving for two whole days. Fuck, it was insane.

AL: What are your top 5 favorite thrash metal bands?
HL: Another tough one. Hmmm… I will just name the obvious ones…Slayer! (Old) Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax!!!, and it is a toss up between Nuclear Assault and KREATOR.

AL: Top 5 thrash metal albums?
HL: Jeez, this is getting harder and harder. Top five thrash albums… Hmmm… Well I always go blank when it comes to naming stuff off the top of my head and it is so hard to really limit it to five. But these are just the first ones that come to mind: Slayer-Show No Mercy. Metallica-Kill Em’ All or Ride the Lighhtning. KREATOR-any of their first albums. Anthrax-Among the Living. Some others are Demolition Hammer-Tortured Existence; this just oozes with savage aggression! After one listen to this album, your brain will be curdled into sludge. But it is so worth it. Others are D.R.I. Or Wait! How could I forget my hometown heroes! METAL CHURCH!!! Way underrated, they are the ones who helped me cross the bridge into the realm of speed! Their debut RULES! It bleeds with merciless headbanging. A must listen for all young metalheads who are looking for something gritty and a little out of the spotlight. I still can’t get enough of it!

AL: What new or old bands do you feel are carrying the thrash metal torch the best?
HL: New bands would be Toxic Holocaust, Ghoul, Municipal Waste, Mantic Ritual and… The Insane Clown Posse

AL: What do you do when you aren’t creating toxic masterpieces?
HL: Lifting heavy weights and chugging energy drinks!

AL: What gets you stoked on a day to day basis?
HL: Getting off work. Making hateful comments on YouTube videos, and jacking up my myspace profile!

AL: Give us a good party story.
HL: When I was around nine or ten one of my best friends, had a birthday party. We had a bunch of those guns that squirt washable ink and we were against his dad who had a garden hose. It was quite the party. There was FREE cake too! Man those were some fun times.

AL: If you were the supreme conqueror of the world, what would you do?
HL: Make hateful comments on YouTube videos, and jack up my myspace profile! And make everyone add me as a friend on Facebook! Imagine that!

AL: What’s your plan for the apocalypse?
HL: Hunker Down.

AL: Anybody you would like to thank?
HL: Too many to name. Family, friends and enemies! Thanx to everyone who shreds and headbangs! And to those who support and contribute to HAZ-MAT! I cant express how much it means! Thrash hard or Die trying!!