San Diego’s own heavy pop punk band For The Win are set to release their most honest album yet this April.  “Heavy Thoughts” is due out April 14th on Artery Recordings and features the band’s most personal lyrics to date blended seamlessly with high energy instruments and vocal harmonies.  We got an early listen of the band’s new album and there’s no sign of a sophomore slump with For The Win!

The album kicks off with a declaration “This is a song for the beaten and broken,” and quickly shifts gears with guitars chugging alongside a steady drum beat on “Us Versus Them.”  Singer Kyle Christensen promises the listener doesn’t have to walk this world alone, which is the overarching message of this album.   Almost every song speaks from the heart about some of those thoughts that sit in the back of your mind all the time.  The first two singles from the album, “Crash And Burn” and “Dancing Shoes” show the dynamic writing both lyrically and musically from the band.

For The Win found the ideal balance between light pop sing along choruses and heavy breakdowns that we’re sure will get the crowd moving during their live shows.  There are a few stand out tracks on this album, “Nowhere To Run” and “How Can I (Get Back To You)” are two of them.  These are two of the more pop hook laden tracks on the album, but lyrically they have the right amount of weight to hold their own against the other tracks on a truly solid sophomore album.

For The Win showcase their softer side as well on the album with the closing track “Until The End Of Time.”   The final track starts as a slow acoustic jam questioning “Do I sit around and wait for change or move ahead to better days without you” and later moves towards a more bitter tone as the drums and a string section fade in.

All in all, these guys are proving that the next generation of melodic hardcore and pop punk are in very good hands. This is an album that not only passed the “driving test” (you know, the one where you plug in the aux cord and just drive aimlessly around town while blasting the album) but it also gets us excited for what’s next from For The Win!

Be sure to grab a copy of “Heavy Thoughts” when it drops April 14th on iTunes, Amazon, and through the band’s official webstore.  Pre-order bundles are available and feature exclusive merch and more!

Catch For The Win on the “Heavy Thoughts Tour” with Rookie Of The Year and The New Low this April!
April 8th – Analog Cafe – Portland, OR – Buy Tickets
April 13th – Malone’s – Santa Ana, CA – Buy Tickets
April 15th – Loading Dock – Salt Lake City, UT – Buy Tickets
April 16th – Moon Room – Denver, CO – Buy Tickets
April 17th – Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO – Buy Tickets
April 20th – Grizzly Hall – Austin, TX – Buy Tickets
April 21st – Jack’s Patio Bar – San Antonio, TX – Buy Tickets
April 23rd – The Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ – Buy Tickets

Don’t forget to follow For The Win and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for the latest on your new favorite artists.