Columbia Records ready to release 'Phantoms,' the New Album from Acceptance in stores Tuesday, April 26, 2005

NEW YORK (Columbia Records/ www.acceptancerock.com) - Columbia Records is set to release Phantoms, the eagerly-awaited major label debut album from Acceptance, the alternative pop/rock band from Seattle that's been identified as one of AOL Music's New Breakers, a "Band To Watch" (Alternative Press) and a "Next Big Thing" (Spin). Phantoms hits the stores on Tuesday, April 26.

Phantoms was recorded in June and July, 2004, at Compound Studios in Seattle, Washington with Aaron Sprinkle (MxPx, Pedro The Lion, Anberlin), an accomplished singer-songwriter in his own right, handling production. Sprinkle first worked with Acceptance on the group's 2003 indie release on The Militia Group label, Black Lines to Battlefields, which was featured on MTV's "You Hear It First."

The first single from Phantoms is "Different," a compelling ode to the shifting complexities of identity in a media-saturated culture.

Acceptance is: Kaylan Cloyd (guitar), Christian McAlhaney (guitar), Nick Radovanovic (drums), Jason Vena (vocals), and Ryan Zwiefelhofer (bass). Formed in Seattle in 1998, the group released an indie EP, Lost For Words, in 1999, and caught the ear of Columbia Records A&R executive (and iconic former host of MTV's pioneering "120 Minutes") Matt Pinfield with a five-song demo (that would later form the core of Black Lines to Battlefields). Acceptance became one of the most popular bands on MP3.com, continually minting new fans with an irresistible combination of punk, hard rock, and hook-packed pop.

Over the course of the band's burgeoning career, Acceptance has toured extensively, crafting a flawless live show while sharing bills with artists like Brand New, Yellowcard, Fallout Boy, One Line Drawing, and the group's Columbia labelmates Coheed & Cambria, among others.

The Acceptance song, "Permanent," has been featured in an ATV3 nationaltelevision campaign while music from Acceptance can be heard in the upcoming video games "NFL Streets 2," "Sims Interactive," "MVP Baseball 2005," and "MLB 6," among others.