Since the summer release of their split 7” with Pop. 1280, Hot Guts’ garage-core brand of dark pop has kept listeners smitten with distortion and moody vocals while remaining hard at work on their forthcoming LP. Yes, we find the band moving in a new direction, and we still likey. No strangers to Danger Danger, Hot Guts makes the most of elongated intros, drums, and melodic riffs on tracks like “Did you not go to the dance alone?” which buzzes, hums and clicks towards an eventually sped up end. Done so with tempered deliberateness, Hot Guts’ mid-song shreds are fittingly paired with reverb that fades to atmospheric and subtle sounds. “Da’rat Hessla” is equal parts eerie and dancey, sounding like a fuzzed out familiar of dark wave chants like “Back In Flesh” or a Depeche Mode/Bauhaus hybrid. Sounds awesome, right? Danger Danger Gallery. 5013 Baltimore Ave., $5-10, All Ages – Dianca Potts