title: The Phantom Agony
text: # The Phantom Agony
  
  Professional ratings :
  
  | Review scores ||
  | - | - |
  | Source | Rating |
  | AllMusic | |
  | Sea of Tranquility | |
  | Musical Discoveries | |
  | Metal Ship | |
  | Lords of Metal | |
  | Metal Reviews | |
  
  The Phantom Agony is the debut studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up The Embrace That Smothers. The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.
  
  The album was re-released on 23 March 2013, which coincided with Epica's 10th anniversary Retrospect show, as a 2-disc expanded edition by Epica's former record label Transmission Records.
  
  ## Track listing
  
  All lyrics are written by Mark Jansen, except where noted.
  
  ## Personnel
  
  All credits adapted from the original release.
  
  ## Singles
  
  ### The Phantom Agony
  
  "The Phantom Agony" was the first single.
  
  **Track listing**
  
  * "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) - 4:35
  * "Veniality" - 4:36
  * "Façade of Reality" - 8:17
  * "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) - 4:37
  
  ### Feint
  
  Feint was the second single.
  
  **Track listing**
  
  * "Feint" - 4:18
  * "Feint (Piano Version)" - 4:53
  * "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56
  * "Seif al Din" - 5:46
  
  ### Cry for the Moon
  
  Cry for the Moon was the third single. The song originated from a two-track demo released under the band name Sahara Dust, with the other track being a demo version of "Illusive Consensus".
  
  **Track listing**
  
  **Demo**
  
  * "Cry for the Moon" - 6:46
  * "Illusive Consensus" - 5:00
  
  **Track listing**
  
  **Single**
  
  * "Cry for the Moon" (Single Version) - 3:33
  * "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
  * "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) - 4:29
  * "Run for a Fall" - 6:31
  