An Hour Before It's Dark
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 | |||
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Producer |
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Marillion chronology | ||||
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Classic Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
Background
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Commercial performance
[edit]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]
Track listing
[edit]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".
Personnel
[edit]Marillion
- Pete Trewavas – bass guitar, additional guitars, organ on "Care"
- Ian Mosley – drums
- Steve Rothery – electric and acoustic guitars, additional keyboards on "Care"
- Mark Kelly – keyboards
- Steve Hogarth – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Additional musicians
- Bethan Bond – harp on "The Crow and the Nightingale", "Care"
- Luis Jardim – percussion on "Reprogram the Gene", "Murder Machines", "Sierra Leone", "Care"
- Kat Marsh – backing vocals on "Be Hard on Yourself", "Sierra Leone"
- Sam Morris – French horn on "Care"
- Choir Noir – backing vocals on "Murder Machines", "The Crow and the Nightingale", "Care"
- In Praise of Folly String Quartet – strings on "The Crow and the Nightingale"
Production
- Marillion – production
- Michael Hunter – production, recording, mixing
- Simon Ward – artwork
Charts
[edit]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 |
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 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.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of March 19, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 15 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.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Marillion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "アン・アワー・ビフォー・イッツ・ダーク". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Marillion – An Hour Before It's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 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.