The Witching Hour emerges from the shadows once more with ‘Dead Inside,’ a haunting, high-intensity post-grunge anthem that’s out now. Fronted by singer-guitarist Taime Marsh—a prodigy who’s been making waves since he was 13—this Sydney-based trio, joined by bassist Travis South and drummer Finley Ford, has already earned international attention, including a nod from Alice Cooper himself. ‘Dead Inside’ is a slow-burning gothic rock masterpiece, beginning with eerie, atmospheric guitar before erupting into a full-throttle lament of anguish and destruction. With visceral lyricism and thunderous instrumentals, it cements The Witching Hour as one of the most electrifying new forces in modern rock. We caught up with the band to talk about their sound, their rise, and what’s next.

Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
We feel "Dead Inside" really cements our sound and is probably our most cleverly crafted song melodically to date.
Delving into introspection and vulnerability, the track offers a sense of healing and comfort in the midst of emotional darkness.

Who are some of your influences, and why?
For this track, some of the influences that come to mind are gothic rock bands like Type O Negative, Evanescence and HIM.
Visually and aesthetically the song's imagery is inspired from Tim Burtonesque themes, blending gothic and eerie elements.

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
The process usually starts with songwriter Taime composing the music. After processing the emotion of the piece, he will visualise a theme and add lyrics to the song (e.g. for 'Dead Inside' the music evoked a feeling of melancholy). After completion, the song is brought to the band where they'll perform it together in preparation for recording.

What do you think makes a great song?
A great song usually has a catchy hook with well-crafted melody and lyrics.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
It would have to be either Alice Cooper or Ozzy Osbourne as they put the 'horror' in rock music and have influenced generations of rock/metal bands.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
As a collective we all enjoy anything to do with visual arts e.g. painting and drawing. We also enjoy video games, philosophy and watching horror movies.

Who are some local bands we should check out?
There's a heap of local bands we dig! To name a few, check out Windwaker, RedHook and Astrodeath.

Winter or summer and why?
Definitely Winter – 'cause we burn in the sun.

What do you have planned for 2025?
An East Coast 'Dead Inside' Tour and recording our EP!