Originally called MK Ultra, doubleDrive arrived on the music scene in their hometown of Atlanta in 1996. After winning the award for Atlanta's favorite "metal/extreme band" in 1998, doubleDrive signed a record deal with MCA Records and subsequently released their first studio album, the self-produced 1000 Yard Stare, in August 1999. The single from this album, Tattooed Bruise, rose to #17 on Billboard's Rock Radio airplay charts In 2001, doubleDrive began recording a second album with producer John Kurzweg. However, the band subsequently parted with MCA Records and the completed album remained unreleased.