How a Malibu hill drive helped create a post-hardcore masterpiece
In short: In 2000, At the Drive-In recorded Relationship of Command using high-adrenaline tactics. Producer Ross Robinson famously drove bassist Paul Hinojos through the Malibu hills in an SUV just to spike his adrenaline. The result was a seminal work that redefined the rock spectrum and left a lasting legacy.
Produced by Ross Robinson and mixed by Andy Wallace, Relationship of Command was tracked at Malibu, California's Indigo Ranch Studios during a seven-week stint beginning January 17, 2000. To capture the raw energy of their live performances, Robinson insisted that every song be tracked live before any overdubs were added. This visceral approach was bolstered by unorthodox methods, such as driving band members through hilly terrain to heighten their physiological arousal before recording sessions.
The album's sonic identity is marked by a blend of aggressive edges and melodic drives, featuring surreal lyrics and emotive vocals. Iggy Pop provides guest vocals on "Enfilade" and "Rolodex Propaganda." Although six-week pre-production sessions yielded most of the album, "Non-Zero Possibility" and "Enfilade" were composed inside the studio.
Despite its critical acclaim, the album's legacy has seen internal debate. In 2010, guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López expressed dissatisfaction with the final product, claiming the mix felt "plastic" and failed to fully capture the band's true energy. Nevertheless, the album remains a cornerstone of the genre. It was the band's final release to feature founding member Jim Ward before the group entered an indefinite hiatus in March 2001, leading members to form The Mars Volta and Sparta.
Damon Locks illustrated the album's visual style, which relies on Trojan War iconography—notably the Trojan Horse—a motif appearing in "One Armed Scissor," "Invalid Litter Dept.," and "Rolodex Propaganda".
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Relationship of Command
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