American Nightmare, an American hardcore punk group from Boston, Massachusetts, was formed in 1998. Previously known as Give Up the Ghost, the group started as a collaboration between Tim Cossar, Wesley Eisold, Azy Relph, and Jesse van Diest. The band released its self‑titled EP on Bridge 9 Records in 2000, followed by Year One in 2001, which compiled earlier material. Their debut full‑length, Background Music (2001), and second album, We're Down Til We're Underground (2003), were issued through Equal Vision Records, earning a dedicated following in the hardcore scene. After a brief breakup in 2004, the group reunited in 2011, reissuing earlier works with Deathwish Inc. and touring extensively, including the 2017 Togetherfest tour. In 2018, they released American Nightmare via Rise Records, and in 2020, they followed with the EP Life Support. The band performed sporadically, celebrating a 25th‑anniversary show in Brooklyn and later at the Tied Down Fest in Detroit in 2025.
