Acceptance
Colliding By Design
Reviewed by: Lauren Rosier
In 2005, the dynamic pop rock band, ACCEPTANCE, released their debut album, Phantoms; a record filled with catchy pop rock anthems that position them as one of the up and coming bands in the scene at the time.
A year later, the band split and went in separate directions, with some members continuing their music career. The band fell out of touch and it wasn’t until a decade later that a serendipitous invitation to New Jersey’s Skate & Surf Festival encouraged the band to regroup. This was the beginning of the new chapter for ACCEPTANCE with Colliding by Design.
The five-piece- Jason Vena (vocals), Christian McAlhaney (guitar), Garrett Lunceford (drums), Kaylan Cloyd (guitar), and Ryan Zwiefelhofer (bass)- opens the record with the first single, “Diagram of a Simple Man”, and rightfully so. It’s a solid pop rock song that screams ACCEPTANCE from the Phantoms era, while also affirming the new musical direction in which the band is headed.
“Come Closer” reveals a piece of the band’s new approach featuring an ’80s inspired vibe. Oddly, it reminds me of a song that the Genesis’ great, Phil Collins, might create, but with a more modern, younger vibe. Rhythmic guitars, dramatic percussion, and stellar arrangements create for a track that says ACCEPTANCE is back and ready to create music that rocks and inspires.
The band explores the difficult nature of “Goodbye,” jumping in, and not having any regrets with Vena contemplates “…maybe I should give in/or should I just keep living/too late, too late/it’s now or never/we’ll slip away/we’ll chase the day/you’ve got me paralyzed…”
Phantoms, to me, has always been a record that was very cohesive. The album was stacked with compelling songs that spoke to me and will always be one of my favorite albums of all-time. ACCEPTANCE isn’t the same band they were in 2005; they all have grown through learning experiences that have shaped them into the individuals they are today and that influences the music you listen you on Colliding By Design. It’s still ACCEPTANCE, just a little bit older, wiser, and aged to perfection.
Rating: Bad-Ass
