earMUSIC announces the release of Marillion’s 20th studio album, An Hour Before It’s Dark, on March 4. A first peek into the album is available as of now with the single, “Be Hard On Yourself”, available for streaming here, and below.

An Hour Before It's Dark - Whether it's the last hour you were allowed to play outside as a child before you had to go home, a reference to the fight against time in relation to the climate crisis or the last minutes in a person's life, Marillion once again put their finger on the pulse of time. Be it social, political, or personal issues, Marillion have never minced words and have always found a way to combine them with their own unique sound, known for incredible songwriting, melodies and top-notch musicianship, while swimming against the tide, not bending to norms and limitations.

The first single, "Be Hard On Yourself", from the upcoming album couldn't be a better example of this. “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. I think the band are as on form as they ever were really, and the addition of Choir Noir has added another new soul and colour to things.”

Like its predecessor, 2016's F*** Everyone And Run (F E A R), An Hour Before It's Dark was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, which also provided the perfect backdrop for the carefully chosen selection of behind-the-scenes footage in form of a documentary on the making of the album and a performance of “Murder Machines” from Real World that will be released together with the album.

An Hour Before It’s Dark will be released on CD+DVD Digipak / CD Digipak / Jewelbox CD / Blu-ray Softbox / 2LP Gatefold / Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Orange). Pre-order here

Further exclusive formats available in the official album store here.

Tracklisting:

"Be Hard On Yourself"
i. The Tear In The Big Picture
ii. Lust For Luxury
iii. You Can Learn
"Reprogram The Gene"
i. Invincible
ii. Trouble-Free Life
iii. A Cure For Us?
"Only A Kiss" (Instrumental)
"Murder Machines"
"The Crow And The Nightingale"
"Sierra Leone"
i. Chance In A Million
ii. The White Sand
iii. The Diamond
iv. The Blue Warm Air
v. More Than A Treasure
"Care"
i. Maintenance Drugs
ii. An Hour Before It’s Dark
iii. Every Call
iv. Angels On Earth

"Be Hard On Yourself":