Del Roscoe delivers cinematic tension with new single “Black Hats”

There’s a moment in “Black Hats” when everything clicks, creating the slow-burn suspense of a Western showdown. Del Roscoe, masters of musical cinematography, build this tension with acoustic guitar pacing like hooves on dirt, while lap steel and mandolin sketch a dusky, ominous landscape.

Robert Lee’s vocal lands like a warning; not overtly political, but unmistakably timely. As with their previous singles, “Black Hats” expands Del Roscoe’s sonic storytelling: where “A Few More Miles” exhaled and “Train Train” mourned, this track darkens the horizon.

With the debut album arriving August 22 via Waydrift Records, the song reflects the project’s emotional urgency, driven in part by bassist Paul Abrelat’s health diagnosis. Each note feels necessary.

Known for their hand-drawn visuals and theatrical live shows, Del Roscoe are building a world. “Black Hats” is one of its starkest landmarks, a place you recognise, but might not want to stay for long.