There’s a certain unease that settles in after the first few bars of “Black Hats,” and it doesn’t let go until the last note fades. Del Roscoe’s latest single is steeped in shadows, but it’s the kind of song that illuminates the space around it by acknowledging the dark. The Atlanta-based band has made a habit of crafting music that feels like a story whispered around a campfire, and this one is a warning told in low tones and sharp detail.

At the center is Robert Lee’s voice – weathered, steady, and deliberate. He’s embodying the kind of character you hope never to meet in real life. The “man in the black hat” could be a politician, a conman, or the neighbor you’ve never quite trusted. That ambiguity makes the song hit harder, and it’s clear the band wants listeners to draw their own parallels.

Instrumentally, “Black Hats” is a careful balance of grit and grace. Mandolin and lap steel bring a rustic shimmer, while the electric guitar winds through like a warning siren. Debra Tala’s accordion adds a cinematic layer, the kind of texture that makes you see the tumbleweed-strewn main street the character might walk down.

This isn’t Del Roscoe’s first foray into atmospheric storytelling – their earlier singles “A Few More Miles” and “Train Train” revealed a knack for pairing vivid narratives with arrangements that feel lived-in. But “Black Hats” shows their teeth. It’s more insistent, more confrontational, and it suggests the debut album, due August 22 via Waydrift Records, will be as layered in tension as it is in melody.

The backstory behind the album gives it another layer of urgency. With bassist Paul Abrelat’s passing shortly after recording, there’s a palpable sense of finishing something that mattered deeply. Every note on “Black Hats” feels like part of that mission – precise, necessary, and unflinching.

Fans of Gothic Americana will find a lot to love here, but so will anyone drawn to music that stirs a little unease in with its beauty. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most compelling art doesn’t soothe; it warns, prods, and makes you listen closely.

With “Black Hats” now streaming and the self-titled debut on the horizon, Del Roscoe is making it clear that their world is one worth stepping into – even if you have to watch your back once you’re there.

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