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Autumn is upon us, and with the change in seasons comes a whole new batch of music to suit the bright colors and shortened daylight that it brings. Warming us up just in time for the cool drop in temperature is Patiently Awaiting the Meteorite, whose new album Canyon Diablo is being heralded as a rebirth of the progressive rock genre. Canyon Diablo is a rock opera in the most eclectic sense of the term; it doesn’t follow a central narrative in the same sense as Tommy, but it offers listeners a glimpse into the multifaceted universe of musical ribbonry that Patiently Awaiting the Meteorite discharges relentlessly. It’s a strong contender for breakout album of the year, and my pick for best rock release of the late 2010s.
Canyon Diablo feels a lot like the marriage of multiple records in a singular tour de force. It anthologizes the band’s jarring sound in three distinctive acts, each one more cinematically designed than the one that came before it. There’s a strong acoustic element that deserves to be commented on, but it doesn’t eclipse any of the more audacious rock n’ roll explosions, which dot the record’s track listing like stars lighting up the night sky. It took me a little time to sort out the themes between each of its ten tracks, but once I wrapped my head around its freewheeling expression and cathartic use of texture, I was addicted to the band’s unfiltered take on melodic noise music – a style I once thought would never reach mainstream audiences in the way that Canyon Diablo is now.
From the moment “Hit the Ground Running” rises from the ethers and comes into full focus we’re gripped by Patiently Awaiting the Meteorite’s hypnotizing glare, which doesn’t require lyrics to take shape on the spot. Musically this has got to be one of the most cutting bands actively recording in the world right now; they effortlessly work their way through this material like they’re baking a cake, adding a pinch of sugar here and a dash of bleached flour there like it’s second nature. I was rather startled to learn that this was their first studio album; my first initial observation of its songs led me to believe that these guys had cut at least two or three records prior to this one. Most virgin LPs aren’t as evocatively enchanting as this one, let alone as professionally produced.
If I had been in charge of the master recording sessions I probably would have split Canyon Diablo into two separate EPs rather than packing all of this material into one album, but what Patiently Awaiting the Meteorite has delivered to us in this record is just as impactful and accessible all the same. I get the impression that this crew is chomping at the bit to get their music out to the public as soon as possible, and while I admire their eagerness I would encourage them to take it slow as they elevate their sound to the international stage. PATM knows what kind of music they want to play, and now the next step is cultivating their style into untouchable perfection, which is something that only comes with time and patience in this medium.
DISCOGS: https://www.discogs.com/Patiently-Awaiting-The-Meteorite-Canyon-Diablo/release/12048650
Gwen Waggoner
