The first incarnation of The Young Evils, the one that first splashed onto the scene two years ago, was guitarist Troy Nelson and his girlfriend Mackenzie Mercer singing bright songs in upbeat unison; the duo’s live performances and their first record, Enchanted Chapel, were too sunny, catchy, and cute to pass up. The band’s since fleshed out to a quintet, and their sound has gone through a transformation as well. Back in November of 2010, Nelson told me that the new material he was writing “is a little more rocking, a little darker…The songs are a little more 3-dimensional, a little more complicated in terms of structure.” He was right—the songs on their newly released Foreign Spells EP are still quick and snappy, but they reveal a blacker, edgier sound and sport titles like “Dead Animals” and “Devil’s Barricade.” It’s an unexpected turn, and one that better suits their diabolical band name. With The Grizzled Mighty, Marco Collins. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Fri., July 13, 7 p.m., 2012