Relationship of Command was the last album by At the Drive-In before they split up, the singer and a guitarist leaving to form The Mars Volta, the bassist, drummer, and other guitarist creating Sparta. You can definitely see elements of both bands in Drive-In, although they're closer to Sparta in general sound. Drive-In is like a combination of both bands that has the best parts of neither. They don't have the more accessible catchiness of Sparta or eccentric creativity of Volta. It doesn't mean they're worse than either though, just different. They have a similar punk rock vibe, with more chaos and creativity in place of choruses and standard progression. The singer is definitely better than Sparta's, although he's more prone to just shouting. They're a loud, aggressive band, with a penchant for lyrics that don't make a lot of sense. It can sound a little too much like the average modern punk band, but they have enough flourishes and good ideas to elevate them.

"Arcarsenal" gets things going with a flurry of drums and diddling guitar that explode into the song proper. "Pattern Against User" is a solid rock song with a pleasant interlude stuffed in the middle. "One Armed Scissor" is probably the most radio-friendly long song the album, which could explain why it was on the radio. "Invalid Litter Dept." is the longest track, and is pretty good, with spoken verses over nice guitars and a catchy chorus. "Enfilade" starts with a creepy phone call and is one of the more out-there songs, with warbled vocals and a unique sounding refrain. "Quarantined" is another good track with a stately pace and many enjoyable elements. "Non-Zero Possibility" is the mellowest song and does some nice things, and is followed by two bonus tracks that keep bringing the off-kilter, loud sound they've been making the whole way through. I'm not as into this kind of thing as I used to be, but it's still a very enjoyable album thanks to its less common elements.

Before there was the Mars Volta there was At The Drive In. The singer and guitarist went on to form the more famous band. Since I hadn't heard of At The Drive In until after they went their own ways, I first heard the CD in comparison to the Mars Volta. There are a lot of similarities, the singing and guitar are of course coming from the same place. The songs are very dramatic, and some of the intros hint at the later noise experiments of the Mars Volta.

This is a very listenable CD, because the songs are a reasonable length, and they rock out. There's very little extraneous, and everything on the CD is good.

Before Cedric and Omar were pushing the boundaries of music nearly to the extremes in the Mars Volta, they were blowing minds in At the Drive-in. To categorize their music is nearly impossible. They've most commonly been labeled as "punk", but that's hardly even scratching the surface. Truth be told, this is a sound that was nearly unique unto itself. The closest comparsion one could perhaps make is Fugazi, but even that is misleading. Either way, you're probably not going to be prepared for this on the first listen.

Now, since the Mars Volta have gotten fairly popular these days, especially among fans of progressive rock, I suppose it'd be fair to make the comparison. While TMV fit somewhat into the prog category, with their huge epic compositions and technically audacious musicianship, I would not quite put ATDI into this same category, at least not quite as squarely. While the music here is highly sophisticated, experimental, and unpredictable, it doesn't really achieve what most would call a "prog" aesthetic. The songs generally aren't that long, and the musicianship is much more closely rooted to the song itself. However, it's not to say that this is necessarily more straight-forward. If you love the explosive oddness of TMV, then you'll most assuredly love this as well.

Describing the songs is basically useless. From one second to the next, this album takes you on a thrilling journey of pure alien madness. From the raw psychosis of "Arcarsenal" to the spacious atmospheres of "Invalid Litter Dept.", this is definitely an album of extremes. But, even in its softer and more tranquil moments, it never gets particularly "normal". Songs like "One Armed Scissor", "Pattern Against User", and "Rolodex Propaganda" are surprisingly catchy, but are still far from being tailor-made radio hits. The album ends appropriately enough with the powerful rocker "Catacombs", which finally culminates with a finale of electronic beeping. At the end, you get the same sensation of having your brain removed, rearranged, and shoved back into place as you do with the Mars Volta, but much more focused and compact.

The point is, you need this album. Anyone who enjoys original, bizarre, daring music simply can't be without this. And, if you like TMV, but perhaps think they're a bit too excessive musically, you'll really love this. But either way, this is essential.

Released to near unanimous critical acclaim, _Relationship Of Command_is a shocking, tightly constructed, highly accessible album which careers between genres, bristles with experimental qualities and shines with delectable, bright melodies.
But on first listening, this CD may soundlike a serious of random explosions set to a completely off the wall drum track with some guy punctuating it all with gibberish lines of screaming and energetic shouting. And yet, the energy is the key: this must be the most energetic, frantic album _ever_. At heart it fuses punk sensibilities (fast, riotous songs, a destructive and uncompromising musical aesthetic) with ideas more common to experimental rock (unpredictable song structures, grandstanding eclecticism, instrumental virtuosity), and importantly, it combines these disparate elements seamlessly. Indeed, I've never heard any other album that sounds quite, or anything like this. The band that splintered off from this, The Mars Volta, share some common ideals (and members), but where TMV will throw some ideas together and make (force?) a 30 minute epuc out of them, ATDI will shoehorn _all_ these ideas, maybe even a full albums worth, into one 4 minute song! And what songs they are: 'Arc-Arsenal' literally explodes into life out of nowhere, with gorgeous, melodic guitar lines underpinning a punk infused anthem, with unpredictable twists all over the place. 'Invalid Litter Dept' is some sort of space age, epic harcore anthem, with completely insane lyrics and soaring, epic melodies. 'Enfilade' kicks off with a genuinely creepy spoken intro (hear to believe) then flys off the handle with static and looped beats, and a truly devastating chorus section. 'Catacombs', possibly the one song in my collection that truly can only be described as 'angular', is an impossible fusion of atonal guitars and wailing, schizophrenic vocals. Avant-rock-progressive-punk anyone? Throughout the album, the vocals rarely stray from deranged screaming and random interjections, but the instrumental play - fluid guitar melodies, meaty power chords, utterly _insane_ drumming and little touches of so much else (the production is a smooth, accessible marvel) never fail to reatin my interest.
After six years with this CD, and having discovered countless bands and albums since, it surprises me how ell this album stands up in my estimation. Such a high energy explosion of viruosity and anger has been taken to extreme limits by The Dillinger Escape Plan, but ATDI created something here which I doubt will ever be repeated or topped. A truly remarkable album, this is a stunning work, brimming with vision and invention, and with the chops, utterly stellar songwriting and plain old courage to make it work.

I honestly don't think I can put into words how great this album truly is. Its truly one of the greatest albums I've ever heard. Although, it took me awhile to feel that way. At the Drive In takes awhile to set in, Omars voice is at first a bit disrupting and rough around the edges, but you gradually grow to love it, as you do with everything else about this band. At the Drive In is in your face with funky and crazy riffs that are accompanied with Omar's unique voice. You really can't describe their sound, you just have to experience it for yourself. But let me tell you, they are one of the most creative and unique bands I've ever experienced. They are truly one of the most influential bands of the post/hardcore punk scene. Many bands have been influenced by ATDI that are popular today. And this album delivers what ATDI do best, and thats rock your socks off. And you keep coming back to get your socks rocked off again and again. Its raw, emotional, intense and emotional. I love the unique guitar riffs and sounds the band produces. Its a very complex album, you hear piano's in some songs, and other little atmospheric effects are littered throughout.

This is by far the strongest ATDI album. 2nd in my book would probably be Vaya, which has some great tracks on it. Its too bad that this is the last ATDI album, it would of been nice to see where these guys could have gone had they stayed togeather. Altough you now have 3/5ths of them in the Mars Volta. While The Mars Volta and Sparta are great bands in their own right, they have branched off into different directions and don't quite match the energy and magic that makes up ATDI. Some bands just have that chemistry, that cohesive nature too them that makes them something special. ATDI had this and this album epitomizes what makes them great.

Lyrically, this album is great. Some of the lyrics are out there and funky, like: "Yes this is the campaign slithered entrails in the cargo bay, A neutered is the vastness Hallow vacuum check the Oxygen tanks." How can you not love lyrics like that? The lyrics fit perfectly with the style of the music being played.

There is really not a bad song on the album, Enfilade is one of my favorites, as is One Armed Scissor and Quarantined. But the real gem of this cd for me is Non-Zero Possibility. Its easily one of the most amazing and songs I've ever heard. I can't get enough of it. Its different from most of the tracks on the album and it sounds almost like a pre-Mars Volta song. Sometimes I use that song to fall asleep, or at least listen too it right before I go to sleep, and has very moody atmosphere and almost puts you in a trance. Truly unbelievable. If you like Sparta or The Mars Volta, try ATDI and see where they started. You really can't go wrong with this album. Pucker up and kiss the asphalt now and go buy this Relationship of Command.