Showing a heavier, more progressive side of THE ELECTRIC MUD, their newest EP, "Black Wool" features a pair of original tracks with a pair of covers from two fairly different rock/metal bands from years past. Crawling from the humid, mangrove-choked banks of the Caloosahatche River, the band drifted from late night jam sessions, backyard keggers, and a revolving cast of members until one night, in the taproom of a closed-up brewery, Peter Kolter, Pierson Whicker, Tommy Scott, and Constantine Grim found themselves in an old-fashioned Morricone-style standoff in 2013. Several years of grueling rehearsals and gigging in dive and biker bars, they released their debut album "Bull Gator" in 2018 and quickly hit the road. With the power of their debut record, they earned spots playing alongside southern rock legends such as MOLLY HATCHET, BLACKFOOT, and THE DEVON ALLMAN BAND among others. After winning a battle of the bands competition that drew the eye of Matt Washburn - the owner/operator of Ledbelly Sound Studios in North Georgia, the band departed to the peach state in 2019 to write and record their follow up album.

Unfortunately, that album would not materialize until September 2020, and despite the strength of "Burn The Ships", it would not afford them a lot of opportunities to grow because of the pandemic lockdowns and the inability to play live. Thankfully, the band is smart, and is coming back with a 4-track independent release, "Black Wool", that represents becoming an even more solid band and even a bit of a metamorphosis into harder edged territory, perhaps encouraged by their recent work with Matt Washburn that has connections to heavier or even progressive bands such as MASTODON, ELDER and ROYAL THUNDER. Created at Farmadelica Sound in Bokeelia, Florida with tracking, mixing, and mastering done by Howard Wulkan, the EP represents a heavier and proggier turn for the band with a pair of new, original tracks as well as a tribute to the seedy, sordid Sunshine State bar circuit where they cut their teeth with a cover of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's "Albatross" and a version of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND's "Whipping Post".

The EP is a sure dive into fuzzy classic metal ala early BLACK SABBATH with only some subtle touches to their southern rock roots, making for a bit of a transition for THE ELECTRIC MUD. The album starts out with the rollicking "Ordinary Man" with a really creative lick of a riff before diving into a bit of chugging feel. Contrastingly, the song slows down once it gets to the chorus and ebbs and flows between rhythms as if being carried by an uncertain tide. The second original track, "Black Wool" explores more swampy, doomy and slow territory, seeing them almost entirely shed the southern rock influence and embrace a stoner, doom metal sound. Where it really shows their progressive influence is in the extensive instrumental sections that explore various styles. Kolter's voice rides a line between a southern drawl like a Ronnie Van Zant but at times has enough growl in his voice that he borders on Phil Anselmo territory. It's an interesting mix. The two covers, created in the style that they've built for themselves show two sides of the same coin that is THE ELECTRIC MUDD, perfect picks to show their varying influences.