For the Win

The San Diego pop-punk outfit For the Win took its name from a familiar American sports expression while maintaining a collective approach to both performance and group dynamics. Kyle Christensen on vocals and Giovanni Moreno on bass, who had been childhood friends sharing baseball games, launched the tight-knit ensemble in 2010 alongside guitarists Lee Chambers and Matt Jimenez plus drummer Omar Nieto. Although the 2012 EP Break the Ice carried a stronger aggressive metalcore edge, the band’s following releases turned almost exclusively acoustic. Artery Records finalized an agreement in 2014 that brought out the debut full-length More Than You Know, a robust fusion of luminous melodies and forceful guitar work. The group later moved to the Chicago-based Victory Records and delivered Heavy Thoughts in 2017.