Black Hats are back with “Witness to Everything,” the latest release from the Oxford-based indie and new wave outfit. Out now on all streaming platforms and available on cassette and CD, the track is part of a four-single series planned for 2026. Vinyl, featuring all four singles plus additional tracks, arrives later in the year. Listen here.
The song hits hard and moves fast. Built on reggae-infused bass lines, skittering drums, and razor-wire guitars, “Witness to Everything” channels an anxious, urgent energy rooted in hope, despair, and a hunger for change. It is the kind of track that earns its momentum, drawing clear lines back to the sharp melodic punch of The Jam while keeping both feet in the present.
Black Hats, the trio of Mark, Budd, and Nick, have been building their reputation steadily. Their debut single “Kick In The Doors” was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Sam Williams, known for his work with Supergrass and Plan B. Their second single “No More Smoke” landed placements on both Shameless and The Magicians in the US, broadening their reach well beyond the UK.
The band has supported Reef, Dodgy, and Stornaway, and played festivals including Wychwood and Truck, as well as the O2 Academy Oxford. Dancing About Architecture called them “a mesmerising band, the perfect balance of muscle and melody.” That description holds up on “Witness to Everything.”
Four singles in 2026. This is a strong way to open the account.