released in 2001

Their debut full-length, Background Music , was recorded for Equal Vision Records and released in 2001. They then embarked on multiple tours in support of the album including a Fall North American tour alongside Converge . The extensive touring continued into the following year. In 2003, the band faced a legal battle with a similarly named band from Philadelphia. The band then changed their name briefly to the initials “A.N.” then to American Nothing for a brief period. After the other American Nightmare threatened to file suit again, they changed their name to Give Up the Ghost (which was intended to be the name of their second album). Their second full length, We’re Down Til We’re Underground released on Equal Vision, displayed the band experimenting with their sound, with longer songs that did not follow the typical hardcore songwriting formula they had adhered to in their previous releases.