Cozell WilsonWhen I checked in with Western Haunts back in January, the band was coming off the release of last year’s excellent Utøya EP and had plans to record another before the year was out. That new record is the five-song Ambassador EP, which will be out later this month. Its first single, “Blue Blooded,” wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Utøya, with its dramatic crescendos built on layers of organ, pedal steel, and reverb-heavy guitar. (This might actually be the most reverb-heavy song Western Haunts has recorded, which is certainly saying something.) And while no one will mistake Western Haunts for Black Sabbath, “Blue Blooded” is heavier and denser than the band’s previous work, especially during the song’s muscular intro. The band has also put together a short West Coast tour in support of its new record, culminating in a performance at the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 21. Listen to “Blue Blooded” after the jump. The Ambassador EP by Western Haunts