Che Arthur, the Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist/engineer/producer and axe-slinger for bands like Pink Avalanche and Atombombpocketknife, has just dropped “Sever,” the lead single from his forthcoming fifth solo record, Describe This Present Moment.
Arthur, a seasoned vet who’s also been slaying on the road as a sound engineer for heavy hitters like Silversun Pickups and Battles, knows his way around a punchy, cathartic arrangement. “Sever” deals with stuff that’s more relevant now than ever: the gut-level pining for real, human connection in a world that feels like it’s crumbling into digital dust and genuine unease. It’s not simply noise; it’s a feeling, a goddamn platform for anyone feeling the disconnect. He tracked the drums for the album at the legendary Electrical Audio with Brian Fox, and he did the rest himself, laying down tracks in Rapid City, St. Louis, and his Chicago home studio.
The man himself says the upcoming album reflects his life and vision of the world right now, and given that “Sever” is the first taste, it sets a powerfully bleak yet resonant tone. Arthur admits the moment he’s describing turned out to be “such a bummer,” and that darkness fuels the fire here. There’s no fake optimism, no light at the end of the tunnel—just the unfiltered truth of modern anxiety and anger channelled through a blistering punk rock filter.
“Sever” is a reminder that Che Arthur remains a formidable force, a songwriter who isn’t afraid to stare into the void and scream back at it with a distorted guitar. Get this in your ears, and then get ready for his tours with Bob Mould in late ’25 and the US in early ’26. The rock ‘n’ roll spirit is alive and well, and it’s screaming through Che Arthur‘s amp.