At The Drive-In
Relationship Of Command
On Sale Now
For $12.98

When you read a review of a band that claims 'a bold fusion of influences', 'a diverse stylistic approach' or some other trite nonsense, most clued in music fans assume they're gonna get the same old thing mixed up with a few unusual production moves or drum loops. This is not the case with the Texas powerhouse At The Drive-In.

These five guys start by cranking the metallic grind with the mega octane album opener, "Arcarsenal." If you stop there you would not grace your soul with the true profound originality of this band.

If you tuned into MTV or your local alterna hit factory radio station and banged up the volume on the first single, "One Armed Scissor," you would hear Cedric the singer holler about oxygen tanks and amputations. You might know that something strange is going on in the rhythm, the knotted whine of the vocals and the tangles of guitars.

If you dropped the bucks and spun through their entire Grand Royal debut, Relationship of Command, you would be touched by something close to modern rock genius. Songs twist and shake, making stylistic turns and melodic dives unlike anything else around.

In the hyped world of the current music scene it's very cool to find a song that actually really rocks. "Sleepwalk Capsules" is not just loud. It's bold and beautiful and it folds into a Jane's Addiction inspired verse that's part narcotic hallucination and part pure pop hook.

Punk rock icon/timeless maniac Iggy Pop lends his throat to several of the tracks here. "Rolodex Propaganda," "Non Zero Possibility," and "Invalid Litter Department" are all graced by one of rock's most notorious singers.

Thanks to some hot shot production by Ross Robinson, the tunes on Relationship of Command are smooth and silky on the outside but raw and gritty at their base. It's a difficult combination to achieve in the studio but At The Drive-In pull it off. Maybe it's the sweat from their legendary live shows. Maybe it's luck. Maybe it really is genius. Whatever it is, spin across this record for a revelation in rock music.

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