| An Hour Before It's Dark | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 March 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2021 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Neo-prog | |||
| Length | 54:10 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Marillion chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock |   [1] |
An Hour Before It's Dark is the 20th studio album by British neo-prog band Marillion, released on 4 March 2022 by Intact and earMUSIC.
On 3 August 2021, Marillion announced the launch of their new pre-order campaign for the recording and release of a new studio album, their first since With Friends from the Orchestra (2019). [2] Frontman Steve Hogarth said "the overall feeling" of the album "is surprisingly upbeat", with the Choir Noir adding "new soul" and "colour" to the music. [3]
The album includes a behind the scenes documentary about the making of the record, and a performance of "Murder Machines" from Real World Studios. [4]
An Hour Before It's Dark was released on 4 March 2022. [4] To promote the record, several London black cabs were decorated with the album's artwork and free rides are given if the customer mentioned a password, which was the album's title. The promotion ran from 4–14 March. [3]
On 7 March 2022, the band announced a 9-date UK tour for September 2022. [3]
On the UK Albums Chart dated 11 March 2022, An Hour Before It's Dark entered at number two, their highest chart position since Clutching at Straws in 1987. [5]
All lyrics are written by Steve Hogarth; all music is composed by Marillion
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Be Hard on Yourself"
| 9:27 3:52 2:07 3:28 |
| 2. | "Reprogram the Gene"
| 7:00 3:31 2:00 1:29 |
| 3. | "Only a Kiss" (instrumental) | 0:39 |
| 4. | "Murder Machines" | 4:20 |
| 5. | "The Crow and the Nightingale" | 6:35 |
| 6. | "Sierra Leone"
| 10:51 1:32 0:53 3:29 2:23 2:34 |
| 7. | "Care"
| 15:18 4:37 2:27 3:18 4:56 |
| Total length: | 54:10 | |
Note: After 4 minutes of silence following "Angels on Earth", the CD will play a 12" remix of "Murder Machines".
Marillion
Additional musicians
Production
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [6] | 25 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [7] | 11 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [8] | 7 |
| Canadian Albums ( Billboard ) [9] | 93 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] | 2 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [11] | 38 |
| French Albums (SNEP) [12] | 13 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] | 2 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA) [14] | 58 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) [15] | 16 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) [16] | 151 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [17] | 32 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV) [18] | 4 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [19] | 2 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [20] | 9 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [21] | 29 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] | 6 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [5] | 2 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [23] | 2 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [24] | 1 |
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the most commercially successful neo-prog band of the 1980s.
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