Please note: This post is not culled in any way from the Year-End Poll, which is ongoing. If you haven’t yet contributed your favorites of 2017 to that, please do.

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This is the hardest list to put together, no question. Don’t get me wrong, I put way too much thought into all of them, but this one is damn near impossible to keep up with. Every digital single, every demo, every EP, every 7″, 10″ one-sided 12″, whatever it is. There’s just too much. I’m not going to claim to have heard everything. Hell, that’s what the comments are for. Let me know what I missed. Invariably, something.

So while the headers might look similar, assuming I can ever remember which fonts I use from one to the next, this list has a much different personality than, say, the one that went up earlier this week with the top 20 debuts of 2017. Not that I heard everyone’s first record either, but we’re talking relative ratios here. The bottom line is please just understand I’ve done my best to hear as much as possible. I’m only one person, and there are only so many hours in the day. Eventually your brain turns into riffy mush.

With that caveat out of the way, I’m happy to present the following roundup of some of what I thought were 2017’s best short releases. That’s EPs, singles, demos, splits — pretty much anything that wasn’t a full-length album, and maybe one or two things that were right on the border of being one. As between genres, the lines are blurry these days. That’s part of what makes it fun.

Okay, enough dawdling. Here we go:

The Obelisk Presents: The Top 20 Short Releases of 2017

1. Lo-Pan, In Tensions
2. Godhunter, Codex Narco
3. Year of the Cobra, Burn Your Dead
4. Shroud Eater, Three Curses
5. Stubb, Burning Moon
6. Canyon, Canyon
7. Solace, Bird of Ill Omen
8. Kings Destroy, None More
9. Tarpit Boogie, Couldn’t Handle… The Heavy Jam
10. Supersonic Blues, Supersonic Blues Theme
11. Come to Grief, The Worst of Times EP
12. Rope Trick, Red Tape
13. Eternal Black, Live at WFMU
14. IAH, IAH
15. Bong Wish, Bong Wish EP
16. Rattlesnake, Outlaw Boogie Demo
17. Hollow Leg, Murder
18. Mars Red Sky, Myramyd
19. Avon, Six Wheeled Action Man Tank 7″
20. Wretch, Bastards Born

Honorable Mention

Across Tundras, Blood for the Sun / Hearts for the Rain
The Discussion, Tour EP
Fungus Hill, Creatures
Switchblade Jesus & Fuzz Evil, The Second Coming of Heavy – Chapter Seven
The Grand Astoria, The Fuzz of Destiny
Test Meat, Demo
Blood Mist, Blood Mist
Sweat Lodge, Tokens for Hell
Dautha, Den Foerste
Scuzzy Yeti, Scuzzy Yeti
Howling Giant, Black Hole Space Wizard Part 2
Decasia, The Lord is Gone
Bible of the Devil/Leeches of Lore, Split 7″

I can’t imagine I won’t add a name or two or five to this section over the next few days as I think of other things and people remind me of stuff and so on, so keep an eye out, but the point is there’s way more than just what made the top 20. That Across Tundras single would probably be on the list proper just on principle, but I heard it like a week ago and it doesn’t seem fair. Speaking of unfair, The Discussion, Howling Giant, The Grand Astoria and the Bible of the Devil/Leeches of Lore split all deserve numbered placement easily. I might have to make this a top 30 in 2018, just to assuage my own guilt at not being able to include everything I want to include. For now though, yeah, this is just the tip of the doomberg.

Notes

To be totally honest with you, that Lo-Pan EP came out Jan. 13 and pretty much had the year wrapped up in my head from that point on. It was going to be hard for anything to top In Tensions, and the Godhunter swansong EP came close for the sense of stylistic adventurousness it wrought alone, and ditto that for Year of the Cobra’s bold aesthetic expansions on Burn Your Dead and Shroud Eater’s droning Three Cvrses, but every time I heard Jeff Martin singing “Pathfinder,” I knew it was Lo-Pan’s year and all doubt left my mind. Of course, for the Ohio four-piece, In Tensions is something of a one-off with the departure already of guitarist Adrian Zambrano, but I still have high hopes for their next record. It would be hard not to.

The top five is rounded out by Stubb’s extended jam/single “Burning Moon,” which was a spacey delight and new ground for them to cover. The self-titled debut EP from Philly psych rockers Canyon, which they’ve already followed up, is next. I haven’t had the chance to hear the new one yet, but Canyon hit a sweet spot of psychedelia and heavy garage that made me look forward to how they might develop, so I’ll get there sooner or later. Solace’s return was nothing to balk at with their cassingle “Bird of Ill Omen” and the Sabbath cover with which they paired it, and though Kings Destroy weirded out suitably on the 14-minute single-song EP None More, I hear even greater departures are in store with their impending fourth LP, currently in progress.

A couple former bandmates of mine feature in Tarpit Boogie in guitarist George Pierro and bassist John Eager, and both are top dudes to be sure, but even if we didn’t have that history, it would be hard to ignore the tonal statement they made on their Couldn’t Handle… The Heavy Jam EP. If you didn’t hear it, go chase it down on Bandcamp. Speaking of statements, Supersonic Blues’ Supersonic Blues Theme 7″ was a hell of an opening salvo of classic boogie that I considered to be one of the most potential-laden offerings of the year. Really. Such warmth to their sound, but still brimming with energy in the most encouraging of ways. Another one that has to be heard to be believed.

The dudes are hardly newcomers, but Grief offshoot Come to Grief sounded pretty fresh — and raw — on their The Worst of Times EP, and the Massachusetts extremists check in right ahead of fellow New Englangers Rope Trick, who are an offshoot themselves of drone experimentalists Queen Elephantine. Red Tape was a demo in the demo tradition, and pretty formative sounding, but seemed to give them plenty of ground on which to develop their aesthetic going forward, and I wouldn’t ask more of it than that.

Eternal Black gave a much-appreciated preview of their Bleed the Days debut long-player with Live at WFMU and earned bonus points for recording it at my favorite radio station, while Argentine trio IAH probably went under a lot of people’s radar with their self-titled EP but sent a fervent reminder that that country’s heavy scene is as vibrant as ever. Boston-based psych/indie folk outfit Bong Wish were just the right combination of strange, melodic and acid-washed to keep me coming back to their self-titled EP on Beyond Beyond is Beyond, and as Adam Kriney of The Golden Grass debuted his new project Rattlesnake with the Outlaw Boogie demo, the consistency of his songcraft continued to deliver a classic feel. Another one to watch out for going into the New Year.

I wasn’t sure if it was fair to include Hollow Leg’s Murder or not since it wound up getting paired with a special release of their latest album, but figured screw it, dudes do good work and no one’s likely to yell about their inclusion here. If you want to quibble, shoot me a comment and quibble away. Mars Red Sky only released Myramyd on vinyl — no CD, no digital — and I never got one, but heard a private stream at one point and dug that enough to include them here anyway. They remain perennial favorites.

Avon, who have a new record out early in 2018 on Heavy Psych Sounds, delivered one of the year’s catchiest tracks with the “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” single. I feel like I’ve had that song stuck in my head for the last two months, mostly because I have. And Wretch may or may not be defunct at this point — I saw word that drummer Chris Gordon was leaving the band but post that seems to have disappeared now, so the situation may be in flux — but their three-songer Bastards Born EP was a welcome arrival either way. They round out the top 20 because, well, doom. Would be awesome to get another LP out of them, but we’ll see I guess.

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One hopes that nothing too egregious was left off, but one again, if there’s something you feel like should be here that isn’t, please consider the invitation to leave a comment open and let me know about it. Hell, you know what? Give me your favorites either way, whether you agree with this list or not. It’s list season, do it up. I know there’s the Year-End Poll going, and you should definitely contribute to that if you haven’t, but what was your favorite EP of the year? The top five? Top 10? I’m genuinely curious. Let’s talk about it.

Whether you have a pick or not (and I hope you do), thanks as always for reading. May the assault of short releases continue unabated in 2018 and beyond.

Desert rock trio Avon begin their next round of tour dates in the UK and Europe on April 26. Anytime you can write words about a group like, “features former members of Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age/Yawning Man,” that’s a noteworthy opportunity not to be missed, but Avon — which in addition to drummer Alfredo Hernandez, who played in the three landmark acts above at one point or another (as well as Brant Bjork‘s underrated and shortlived Che), also includes English transplant James Childs (Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata) and Waxy’s Charles Pasarell — prove to be more than the sum of their pedigree. Having made their debut in 2016 with the full-length Mad Marco on their own Spira Records, the band mark their return trip abroad this spring with a new single on H42 Records, given the righteous title Six Wheeled Action Man Tank.

Should you ever doubt that the roots of desert rock are in a grown-up version of punk: don’t. The hook of Avon‘s “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank,” catchy and as straightforward as it could possibly be, is a fervent reminder otherwise. Unpretentious in tone and straightforward in its structure, the song and its B-side counterpart, “The Kurgan” (like in The Highlander!), both stand at right around three and a half minutes long, both are catchy as hell and neither neglects melody in their delivery of that catchiness. Taken one into the next, they demonstrate how unnecessary tonal trickery is when you have quality songcraft, and whether it’s the garage-style push of “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” or the warmer vision of grunge in “The Kurgan,” Childs, Pasarell and Hernandez give a quick showing of groove and push in these tracks that, while they probably don’t need to do much convincing anyway, should have no trouble lodging themselves in the frontal lobes of their audiences for the coming run in the UK, Germany and Belgium.

That tour, by the way, includes stops at Desertfest London and Desertfest Berlin 2017, and plenty of clubs besides, so while “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” may or may not actually be about a plastic toy, the three-piece seem to be using it as a standard to live up to as well. Fair enough. May they roll over anything and everything in their path. You know, with rock and roll. Not actually with a tank. That would be weird and probably illegal.

Go ahead and get Avon‘s “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” stuck in your head by streaming the premiere of the track on the player below. I hear tell they’ll have copies on hand from H42 Records by the time they get to Desertfest.

Comment from Childs on the track and the tour dates follow beneath.

Please enjoy:

James Childs on “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank”:

After getting back from our recent Mad Marco tour, right away we knew that we needed to record “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” as the song killed it on every show! We are very excited about H42 Records releasing the track on 7″ limited vinyl and super stoked about being invited to Desertfest both in London and Berlin along with 18 more tour dates for us to smash out!

AVON UK & EU Tour Dates:
April 26 The Old Ham Tree Holt UK
April 27 The Greyhound Midsomer Norton UK
April 28 The Old Road Tavern Chippenham UK
April 29 Desertfest London UK
April 30 Desertfest Berlin DE
May 1 Jagerklause Berlin DE
May 3 Schaubude Kiel DE
May 04 Bambi Galore Hamburg DE
May 5 Chemiefabrik Dreden DE
May 6 Ragga Oelsnitz DE
May 7 Black Label Leipzig DE
May 8 Cosmic Dawn Jena DE
May 9 Alltra Chemnitz DE
May 10 Limes Cologne DE
May 11 Gerber 3 Weimar DE
May 12 Rare Guitar Munster DE
May 13 Freak Show Essen DE
May 14 JH Tijl Diest BE
May 16 Radio Benelux Paal BE

Avon are:
Alfredo Hernández (Ex-Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age, Che)
James Childs (Vic Du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, Airbus, Little Villains)
Charles Pasarell (WAXY)

Avon website

Avon on Thee Facebooks

H42 Records on Thee Facebooks

H42 Records on Twitter

H42 Records on Bandcamp

Anyone who’s ever asked ‘what’s in a title?’ should have to write out Six Wheeled Action Man Tank 100 times on the blackboard. Cali desert rockers Avon offer a weighty answer to that cliche-as-hell question with the likewise weighty title of their new single. Being a trio, the name of the track may or may not actually refer to the band itself, but either way, there’s artwork posted and an audio snippet playing now and it’ll be out on H42 Records in time for Avon — which draws pedigree lines to the likes of Kyuss, Vic du Monte and Waxy — to hit Europe at the end of next month for Desertfest 2017 in London and Berlin and other shows besides, so right on.

Plus, if you missed it, it’s friggin’ called Six Wheeled Action Man Tank. I don’t care what bands you used to be or are still in — you call your single Six Wheeled Action Man Tank, you automatically win. Look out, Best Short Releases of 2017 list.

From the PR wire:

AVON unvealed cover artwork + first audio snippet for new upcoming 7″ on H42 RECORDS

OUT april 2017

We are so happy to present you the cover art for the new upcoming Avon 7″ ‘Six Wheeled Action Man Tank”.

Avon are:
Alfredo Hernández (Ex-Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age, …)
James Childs (Vic Du Monte’s Persona Non Grata, Airbus, Little Villains)
Charles Pasarell (WAXY)

AVON play heavy rock and are from California USA. The music is psychedelic, raw, melodic and has something to say. Their musical bond comes from years of playing in their respective bands often together in California’s desert cities, Los Angeles and on many European tours. Each member brings with them influence and experience to form a unique and driven sound. So if you like heavy desert rock, then you have come to the right place. After their 2016 debut ‘Mad Marco’ they will be back soon on european stages with new tunes!

confirmed dates so far
April 29 Desertfest London
April 30 Desertfest Berlin
May 04 Bambi Galore, Hamburg
May 10 Limes, Cologne
May 12 Rare Guitar, Munster
May 13 Freak Show, Essen

www.avonway.com/
www.facebook.com/Avonband/
http://www.facebook.com/H42Records
https://twitter.com/H42Records
https://h42records.bandcamp.com/track/six-wheeled-action-man-tank-snippet

Avon, “Six Wheeled Action Man Tank” snippet