An Hour Before It's Dark

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 were given to customers who gave the album's title as a password. The promotion ran during March 4–14.^[3]

On 7 March 2022, the band announced a 9-date UK tour for September 2022.^[3]

Commercial performance

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 reached the same position in 1987.^[5]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Steve Hogarth; all music is composed by Marillion.

*An Hour Before It's Dark* track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Be Hard on Yourself" i. "The Tear in the Big Picture" ii. "Lust for Luxury" iii. "You Can Learn"	9:27 3:52 2:07 3:28
2.	"Reprogram the Gene" i. "Invincible" ii. "Trouble-Free Life" iii. "A Cure for Us?"	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" i. "Chance in a Million" ii. "The White Sand" iii. "The Diamond" iv. "The Blue Warm Air" v. "More Than a Treasure"	10:51 1:32 0:53 3:29 2:23 2:34
7.	"Care" i. "Maintenance Drugs" ii. "An Hour Before It's Dark" iii. "Every Cell" iv. "Angels on Earth"	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".

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

v t e Marillion
Steve Rothery Mark Kelly Pete Trewavas Ian Mosley Steve 'h' Hogarth Mick Pointer Brian Jelliman Doug 'Rastus' Irvine Fish Diz Minnett Andy Ward John 'Martyr' Marter Jonathan Mover
Studio albums	Script for a Jester's Tear Fugazi Misplaced Childhood Clutching at Straws Seasons End Holidays in Eden Brave Afraid of Sunlight This Strange Engine Radiation marillion.com Anoraknophobia Marbles Somewhere Else Happiness Is the Road Less Is More Sounds That Can't Be Made Fuck Everyone and Run (F E A R) An Hour Before It's Dark
Compilations	Brief Encounter B'Sides Themselves A Singles Collection The Best of Both Worlds The Best of Marillion The Singles '82–88' With Friends from the Orchestra
Live albums	Real to Reel The Thieving Magpie Made Again Unplugged at the Walls Front Row Club Issue 1 Anorak in the UK Early Stages Live from Loreley Recital of the Script
Remix albums	Tales from the Engine Room
Singles	"Market Square Heroes" "He Knows You Know" "Garden Party" "Punch and Judy" "Assassing" "Kayleigh" "Lavender" "Heart of Lothian" "Lady Nina" "Welcome to the Garden Party" "Incommunicado" "Sugar Mice" "Warm Wet Circles" "Freaks (Live)" "Hooks in You" "The Uninvited Guest" "Easter" "Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)" "Man of a Thousand Faces" "You're Gone" "Don't Hurt Yourself" "The Damage" (live) "Thankyou Whoever You Are"/"Most Toys" "Carol of the Bells"
Related articles	Marillion discography Brave (film) John Helmer Mark Wilkinson Crowdfunding Fan-funded music

An Hour Before It's Dark

Release

Commercial performance

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

References

Related Articles