Relationship of Command was the last album where Omar Rodriquez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala worked with the other members from At The Drive-In
And with the 8 years they spent together (They are disbanded now, Omar and Cedric went on to create The Mars Volta and the other members created SPARTA.) this is as good as it gets.
Cedric's post-hardcore screamo/singo vocals have never been more precedent, and the melodies have never been this soothing.
Some songs that really stuck out for me were the opening Arcarsenal, the single One Armed Scissor, and the intensely creepy Enfilade.
Take a listen to Enfilade while you finish this review.
At The Drive-In - Enfilade
Although the ending "Non-Zero Possibility" was a bit of a disappointment for me, the rest of the album held very strong together...I mean VERY strong.
Set List
Arcarsenal
Pattern Against User
One Armed Scissor
Sleepwalk Capsules
Invalid Litter Dept.
Mannequin Republic
Enfilade
Rolodex Propaganda
Quarantined
Cosmonaut
Non-Zero Possibility
Extracurricular
Catacombs
As usual, Cedric's lyrics are often confusing, but with just the right amount of feel to let you know what it could mean.
More specifically, Enfilade has some of the creepiest lyrics I have ever heard (Next to Prison Sex by Tool).
He talks about a kidnapping, and a snuff style video taping of a brutal murder (On the train tracks). The feel is very disturbing, and one of the more powerful songs on the album.
As I mentioned earlier, the album is solid. Really solid.
There are no real "bad" tracks on the release, but some definitely shine more than others.
It is this Solidness that gets the album a high ranking.
And so I conclude, and give Relationship of Command a:
Review 
