Relationship of Command

Damon Locks created the striking artwork for At the Drive-In's Relationship of Command around themes of espionage and chaos suggested by the band. The Chicago-based artist, who studied at SVA and later the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, built the entire visual campaign around Trojan War imagery.

The cover centers on the Trojan Horse, with all related single artwork—One Armed Scissor, Invalid Litter Dept., and Rolodex Propaganda—following the same mythological theme. According to layout designer Jason Farrell, the band gave him "vague concepts of espionage and chaos" to translate into visual form.

Jason Farrell, a musician and graphic designer from the D.C. punk scene, handled the layout design. Farrell, who studied advertising design at the University of Maryland, had extensive experience with album artwork through his connections to Dischord Records and bands like Fugazi and Bluetip.

Locks began his career as an illustration major before expanding into fine arts. By 2000, he was already working in album cover design, having started in his twenties. His artistic process combines drawing, photography, digital manipulation, and screen printing to create what he describes as work with "warmth and tactile quality."

Regional pressing differences emerged between US and European versions. The US release shows more of the Trojan Horse imagery and uses more orange coloring, while the European version has different cropping and a white spine instead of continuing the design.

The album was released September 12, 2000, through Grand Royal Records under Virgin Records distribution. Band member Cedric Bixler-Zavala later acknowledged the key contributions, specifically thanking Locks and Farrell on the album's 20th anniversary.

Locks continues working as a multidisciplinary artist in Chicago, teaching at the School of the Art Institute while leading the collective Black Monument Ensemble. Farrell moved to Los Angeles and continues design work alongside his ongoing music career.