Marillion's "An Hour before it's Dark" announcement.

Marillion just announced that they will release their brand new studio album on March 4, 2022. Let’s check the artwork and track list in depth, shall we?

The album is titled “An Hour Before it's Dark.” It can cleverly refer to the last hour you were allowed to play outside as a child before heading home. In the grand scheme of things, it could mean the way we deal with the imminent climate crisis and in a cumbersome tone, our own mortality. Have you ever thought about the average life span of a human in days? Only 22.000 days is our average time on earth, not that much if you ask me.

Marillion have found a way to stay true to their unique sound. Incredible songwriting skills and meaningful lyrics that touch a vast array of subjects became the norm on each one of their records. Social issues, interpersonal relationships, you name it. Marillion has a tune that can struck you right in the guts.

“Despite the seemingly bleak contemplations across this album, the virus, our mortality, medical science, care, and Leonard Cohen (ha ha) – The overall feeling of the music is surprisingly upbeat,” add singer, songwriter and front man Steve Hogarth.

“I think the band are as on form as they ever were really, plus the addition of the Choir Noir has added another new soul and color to things.”

One again, the band recorded at the famous Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio, providing the perfect scenario for the behind-the-scenes documentary of the whole process of creating such a work of art in the middle of a global pandemic. The video production will be release together with the album.

The band is currently on the road with the “The light at the end of the tunnel,” tour in the UK. It will be followed by several Marillion weekends until 2022 quickly followed by a vast European tour in Autumn 2022.

Why don’t we take the opportunity to dive deep and peek at the tracking list of this long awaited production?

“Be hard on yourself” the first track of the album is divided into three different sections: The tear in the big picture, lust for luxury and You can learn. This track was released early this month as a single to promote the album and create momentum.

“Reprograming the Gene” Another song divided into three smaller sections, Invincible, Trouble free, A cure for us?

The third song is an instrumental called “Only a kiss” (I don’t know why but I got high expectations for this one).

‘Murder machines” and “The crow at the nightingale” as fourth and fifth.

“Sierra Leone” Another one divided into smaller pieces, this time, five different sections intertwined. (I think this one will be similar to The New Kings from their album F.E.A.R. (another favorite of mine). The sections are named as follow: Chance in a million, The White Sand, The Diamond, The Blue Warm Air and finally, More than a Treasure.

The last song is called “CARE” again, divided into four smaller pieces: Maintenance drug, An Hour before it’s Dark, Every Call and Angels on earth.

This will be Marillion’s 20th studio album. Their last record called F.E.A.R. from 2015 was pretty well received among fans and music enthusiasts alike. It’s a product of its time, it took me a couple of listens to fully appreciate the scope of the work. Once I got it, it never ceases to amaze me. When you feel like it, it works as a whole.

There’s great expectation behind this new album, the way it was conceived, the production and state of mind of the musicians while recording must give this new album a light of its own.

I like what I heard on “Be hard on yourself.” I simply can’t wait to hear the album on it’s entirely as soon as I put my hands on it.