The debut album from Acceptance will be turning 20 over the weekend, so it’s only fitting for us to take another look at the cult favorite record known as Phantoms. The band’s strength came from the great partnership between lead guitarist Kaylan Cloud and dynamic vocalist Jason Vena, and their ability to convey a wide range of emotions through their unique brand of rock. The set was produced by veteran hit-maker Aaron Sprinkle, who leaves his great blueprint all over this shimmering album. The promotion cycle Phantoms included only two singles, “Different” was the lead single, while the more upbeat “Take Cover” followed up on the modest success of the debut single. The band would follow the release of Phantoms with tours with bands like Vendetta Red, Head Automatica, Anberlin, Saosin, and more to work on their live show that had steadily improved since Acceptance formed in 1998. Acceptance would take a lengthy hiatus in 2006, only to reunite and re-capture their spark in 2017’s equally great Colliding By Design. Phantoms signaled a key moment in Acceptance’s rise in the crowded emo scene, and it’s a shame that the record didn’t take off as much as it clearly should have.