An Hour Before It's Dark
An Hour Before It's Dark | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 March 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2021 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | Neo-progressive rock | |||
Length | 54:10 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Marillion chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Classic Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
An Hour Before It's Dark is the 20th studio album by British neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released on 4 March 2022 by Intact and earMUSIC.
Background[]
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]
Release[]
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 will run from 4–14 March.[3]
On 7 March 2022, the band announced a 9-date UK tour for September 2022.[3]
Commercial performance[]
On the midweek UK Albums Chart dated 7 March 2022, An Hour Before It's Dark entered at No. 2, their highest chart position since Clutching at Straws in 1987.[5]
Track listing[]
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" | 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".
Personnel[]
Marillion
- Pete Trewavas – bass guitar
- Ian Mosley – drums
- Steve Rothery – electric guitar
- Mark Kelly – keyboards
- Steve Hogarth – lead vocals
Additional musicians
- Choir Noir – vocals on "Murder Machines", "The Crow and the Nightingale", "Care"
Production
- Marillion – production
- Michael Hunter – production, recording, mixing
- Simon Ward – artwork
Charts[]
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6] | 11 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7] | 7 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] | 2 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] | 38 |
French Albums (SNEP)[10] | 13 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 2 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[12] | 58 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[13] | 16 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] | 32 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] | 2 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 29 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 6 |
UK Albums (OCC)[18] | 2 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[19] | 2 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[20] | 1 |
References[]
- ^ Everley, Dave (4 March 2022). "Marillion's new album is dramatic, hopeful, and one of the finest of their career". Classic Rock. Retrieved 10 March 2022 – via Loudersound.
- ^ "pre-order". 15 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Colothan, Scott (7 March 2022). "Marillion announce September 2022 UK tour". Planet Rock. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b Ewing, Jerry (19 November 2021). "Marillion release full details of 'upbeat' new album An Hour Before It's Dark". Prog. Retrieved 4 January 2022 – via Loudersound.
- ^ Smith, Carl (7 March 2022). "Stereophonics set for eighth UK Number 1 album with Oochya!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Marillion: An Hour Before It's Dark" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Top Albums (Week 10, 2022)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 11 March 2022". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 10 (dal 04.03.2022 al 10.03.2022)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Album 2022 uke 10". VG-lista. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 10". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- 2022 albums
- Marillion albums