| 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 neo prog 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.
Fugazi is the second studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1984. Produced by Nick Tauber, it was recorded between November 1983 and February 1984 at various studios and was the first to feature drummer Ian Mosley, following the dismissal of the band's original drummer Mick Pointer.
Clutching at Straws is the fourth studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released on June 22, 1987. It was the last album with lead singer Fish, who left the band in 1988, and is a concept album.
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Seasons End is the fifth studio album by British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1989. The album was the first to feature current lead vocalist Steve Hogarth, following the departure of former vocalist Fish in late 1988. It reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.
Holidays in Eden is the sixth studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1991. Recorded at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire and Westside Studios in London, it was the band's second album with vocalist Steve Hogarth and the first completely written without previous lead singer Fish.
Afraid of Sunlight is Marillion's eighth studio album, released in 1995. It was their last for EMI.
The Best of Both Worlds is a two-disc compilation album by British neo-prog band Marillion released in 1997 by EMI Records, who the band had been signed to from their debut in 1982 until being dropped in 1995. The title refers to Marillion's two distinct "eras" with lead singers Fish (1980–1988) and Steve Hogarth. By the time this compilation was released, both line-ups had recorded four studio albums each.
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Radiation is the tenth studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1998. Recorded at The Racket Club between November 1997 and June 1998, it was co-produced and mixed by Stewart Every. The album was remixed by Michael Hunter in September to November 2012 and a reissued remastered version was released in 2013.
Anoraknophobia is the 12th studio album by the British rock band Marillion, released in 2001. It is regarded as the first instance of a music recording completely financed by fans in a then-unique fundraising campaign, as 12,674 copies were pre-ordered before the album was even recorded.
The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra) is a double live album by the British neo-prog band Marillion. It was named after the introductory piece of classical music the band used before coming on stage during the Clutching at Straws tour 1987–1988, the overture to Rossini's opera La gazza ladra, which translates as "The Thieving Magpie". The album was released shortly after singer Fish's departure from the band (and before Steve Hogarth's arrival) and was intended to document the "Fish years". It complements the band's first live album Real to Reel insofar as there are no overlaps. The Thieving Magpie is not a continuous live recording, but a compilation of tracks recorded at different times and places, with audible gaps between them and different moods on the individual tracks. However, the double vinyl version does include the first side of the UK number one concept album Misplaced Childhood (1985). The CD and cassette version includes the full album, as well as the track "Freaks" – originally the b-side to "Lavender", it was used as the lead single for The Thieving Magpie peaking at no. 18 in the UK.
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Less Is More is an acoustic studio album by Marillion, released on the band's own label on 2 October 2009. A retail version is distributed by Edel Music. The band's 16th studio album, it contains re-arranged songs from the period that Steve Hogarth has been their singer plus the previously unreleased track, "It's Not Your Fault". Despite some positive reviews, the album did not chart in the UK.
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(Care)