Matt Hanchunk & Søren Adamsen

Gutter Creek

Simply a trio of guys coming to work together, all in the name of heavy music, and past influences that matter to the context. Essentially, it is also, perhaps mainly a matter of what feels inside. The passion to recreate the past but with an embodiment of the future. When Wreck-Defy's Matt Hanchunk, and his buddy Derrick Kroll, form Gutter Creek, they decided that there is a need for a top class vocalist, ex-Artillery's Søren Adamsen became the leading candidate. Adamsen himself was equally passionate upon invitation, and no doubt that he proved himself right in the band's self-titled debut, "Gutter Creek". Steinmetal had Matt and Søren sit down and talk about the basics behind the idea of the band, the newly released album and of course what the future holds

By Lior "Steinmetal" Stein

• March 1, 2022

Gutter Creek's Matt Hanchunk: "I think anytime is the right time for good music

Hello gentlemen, I am highly pleased to have you for this interview with Metal Temple online Magazine, how has life been treating you lately?

Søren: Despite the pandemic AND the current unstable situation in Europe, I'm quite good, thank you

Matt: I have to agree with Soren I'm quite good I live my life to the fullest and not in fear of anything the government suggests that I should be fearful of

It came to me as a pure surprise, when Gutter Creek landed on me. Now, I know that this pandemic, with its lockdowns, and the feelings of people cooped up, a lot of ideas eventually become a reality, when it enables. Prior to us getting into the foundation of this band / project, was it just out of the blue the Gutter Creek idea, or did the pandemic have something to do with it?

Søren: Matt just wrote to me. Later send me some songs. And I was in.

Matt: I had written most of those songs roughly two years prior to arranging them into the musical context for which they are heard today as compositions. I really wanted to release music that was a complete departure from my thrash metal band wreck-Defy also the opportunity to work with a singer as talented as Soren really made the project that much more exciting to both Derrick and myself

Each of you has a history in Metal music, with you Søren being involved in various bands, Artillery was one of them, and with you Matt being the man behind the Thrash Metal band Wreck-Defy. Like a sort of a Danish and a Canadian meeting in a bar. How did this relationship start? How did you find yourselves forming?

Søren: Matt and Derrick simply wrote to me, if I would be interested in doing vocals for the songs, that they had already written and recorded. They sent me two songs to listen to and I said yes right away.

Matt: Yes it really was that simple Derrick and myself we were brainstorming on singers originally we had focused and started working with another singer but for whatever reason things just didn't pan out, so in the 11th hour Derrick had an epiphany and suggested soren, I immediately agreed with the idea of Søren doing justice to these songs …he is an amazing singer with a unique tone and Soren did this very professionally and very promptly the whole experience has been nothing but a blessing.

In your views, what was the main idea that Gutter Creek was founded on, other than your admiration, and constant devotion towards Metal and Rock music?

Søren: The main idea for me is to create organic music that is based on what I originally grew up with. 70's Hard Rock, Heavy Rock, Heavy Metal…..whatever you want to call it.

Matt: You know for me I love all genres of music that are propelled by guitar and guitar riffs bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, rainbow, the scorpions, the Stampeders, April wine, all that great classic stuff that's kind of where the influence came from, but I have to agree with Soren in that the songs do have an organic overtone to them and they did kind of write themselves none of these songs were a challenge to write or arrange it all came together fairly quickly.

So when I suggested earlier that the songs had been written two years prior, it had only taken a short while to write those songs they just came together really simply easily and obviously it's a complete departure from Wreck-defy on purpose and not nearly as technical as from an instrumental perspective, there are some intricate parts and I'd suggest that the vocals are pretty proficient on the album so are a lot of the drum nuances. Doug Piercey's guest guitar spots breathe life into the album that me alone as a guitar player could not have, I played a few solos as well but my style is more of a shred approach whereas Doug has all kinds of feeling and flavour that I do not possess.

Would you say that overall, Gutter Creek was the right thing at the right time, with you being able to be free spirits, bringing in material that was never recognized, or maybe just did fit your current, and previous musical acts?

Søren: I have, for a long time wanted, to create something that was back to my roots. Both musically and vocally.

Matt: I think anytime is the right time for good music, I think good music is timeless and absolutely there are parallels within Gutter Creek to the heyday of 70s and 80s arena rock but that's completely intentional and we definitely added a modern groove with a crunch approach to our sound

With Wreck-Defy being part of Doc Gator Records, it appeared natural for me that Gutter Creek would find itself being part of the roster as well. Through the German label you are set to release your self-titled debut. I would go for an obvious question there, why keep it self-titled, just to keep it simple? Were there deliberations on other titles?

Søren: We could have called it something fancy, but to keep it 70's a self-titled debut album makes sense to me. Sabbath, Kiss, Zeppelin, Rainbow…..all did that.

Matt: Actually, I had suggested the song title slipping through the scars I thought it was a great title and I thought that the album spoke with regards to a lot of inner turmoil and catharsis, at least it did for me, so that song stood out and I thought was a good representation of the overall lyrical concepts that encompassed the bulk of that album. That being said, it was Soren who suggested gutter Creek is such a strong name on itself and invokes all kinds of different images that why not release it as a self-titled especially since it's our debut

We talked about the possibility of a free spirit, for you, as a duo of artists that wish to express themselves as much as you can. Going through the tracklist, for me it looks like two tones coming together, one might argue that it is the perfect fusion. What is the narrative, or narratives, that guide the album? On what sort of trip are you taking the listener lyrically?

Søren: My lyrics are rooted in personal stuff, or my personal view on some topic. When that is said, it's not always that what I write have a one sided deeper meaning. Sometimes I use words that I know is good to sing "on".

Matt: Yeah for me I only contributed 3 songs lyrically this time to this record rather or as in Wreck -Defy I generally handle all the lyrics I wanted to write about things that I hadn't touched upon in my other band. The three songs that I had written lyrics for on this record were never back down, at peace with misery, and mesmerized. a lot of the inspiration I have lyrically is generally towards my spitefulness towards government and corporate reign. so these three songs that I had written were actually a departure from my comfort zone and I was really happy and thankful that Soren without hesitation was willing and happy to approach this project as a full on member and contribute lyrics and all his vocal melodies in fact it was a really easy record to make, all three of us work together really well, no egos, no problems... just music.

We mentioned the pandemic earlier on, how did this worldwide phenomenon find its way into your philosophical view on the record?

Søren: For me not more than when I normally write lyrics.

Matt: Yeah for me not at all I'll save that perspective for wreck defy

No doubt that musically you made a special kind of platter here, making sure that there is a fine mixture of nearly everything within the borders between Metal and Rock. Each song serves a different attitude, which I believe an open mind would accept with open arms. I wonder, how was "Gutter Creek" challenged on the musical end, in particular of your approach towards the songwriting?

Søren: Well, this is the first album for Gutter Creek and the first time we work together. Long distance working relationship obviously. I think that we will develop on our next album, and make our sound, maybe a little bit more, homogenous and not sticking so much in different directions.

Matt: Well I can tell you this, that's my fault for the misdirection, since I'm responsible for the music, that being said, those are the sounds that I wanted to explore. So what may seem like an accident is actually on purpose LOL. But I can tell you this I've been working on the second album and I have 11 songs done and we've already been discussing working on a specific cover song and I can guarantee that our sophomore effort will be a cut above our debut in every way and I'm excited to play shows with Soren and Derrick and whoever fills our base spot for live gigs and let people really sink their teeth into this music in a live setting

I think that we all agree that this is a band that is classic Hard Rock rooted in that… or maybe I'm wrong, the next album will sound like Obituary!!

Even though the modern based sound of the record, I could listen to various influences, coming across, as if those were giant waves. Whom did you say that you followed, or were inspired by, while writing the songs for the album?

Søren: It's pretty obvious. Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio, Kiss, Zeppelin, Purple….etc. etc.

Matt: Yeah maybe I got ahead of myself earlier but yeah what Soren said LOL

Since I assume that the two of you didn't really meet to write the songs, how did the songwriting sessions go down? One taking on the music, and the other lyrics and vocal melodies? Was it an open line between both of you over the internet to share ideas and sorts?

Søren: I wrote 6 lyrics Matt wrote 3…. I guess. All the music were written, so I got free hands to work on the melody lines, which I did. I recorded vocals in Medley Studios in Copenhagen with producer Søren Andersen whom I have worked with on several occasions before.

How did the course of the songwriting, and afterwards the recording phase, enhance your musical expertise, even though both of you are experienced musicians? What did you learn about yourselves as musicians, and writers, in light of the album?

Søren: Recording vocals I wanted to sing the song through. Not taking it bit by bit. To get that live feeling.

Matt: Just that a song doesn't have to be super technical or have a million time changes, Start Stop, two-minute guitar solos, and 320 BPM double bass through the whole song. A song can be organically crafted in one fell swoop and still have substance. So I went through the whole song maybe three times and then we pieced together a lead vocal of those three takes. Then put on some overdubs and choirs here and there, so it went pretty quick.

You brought into the band / project some great musicians that helped you make "Gutter Creek" an impressive result. The rhythm section and lead guitar parts truly gave the record a good boost. What can you tell in regards to recruiting the right people to serve your needs for the record? Would you say that it was a tricky process?

Matt: No, not necessarily a tricky process, I've been networking with musicians for many years now, and Derrick and I have known each other for almost 20 years in a musical capacity and we've been playing together in various incarnations of different musical outlets and projects over the years, I knew without hesitation that Derrick would be the right guy for gutter Creek

When I first listened to "Nomad" I thought to myself that yes, I found the album's hit song for sure. When it comes to a hooking grip, this song has everything. However, it doesn't cut to the chase that fast, it lets you linger within right until getting that punch. What can you tell about the creative process of this track? How do you find its effect on the record?

Søren: I don't know. Lyrically it's one of those songs that I really don't know what's all about. Obviously you could say that it's about traveling or being on the road, or just moving towards something in your life. Unknown territory.

"No Slave Religion", filled with defiance again the monotheist religions, in spirit I believe that it is closer to you Søren, since you are from the area so to speak. The song builds up to be a tough groovy riffer, a kind of a Dio-esque style in a way. What is your appreciation of this track and its development?

Søren: Yes, lyrically it's about pagan religion or pagan life style, if you don't want to use the word religion.
But basically it's about, or could be about, going outside of a religious context, doing your own thing. Being your own master and not be a slave. Or perhaps it's about Harley Davidson Motorcycles…..

Since I have no idea what the future holds of Gutter Creek, would you say that eventually it will become an actual band? Do you have any wish to become a live band in the future?

Søren: Becoming a live band is the only thing we want man!

Matt: what he said

Gentlemen, it was a sheer pleasure for me to have you, and I bid you thanks for this opportunity to have you over and for your time. All the best, Cheers

Thank you Lior