"Afraid of Sunlight" marked a significant chapter for Marillion, released in 1995 as their eighth studio album. Despite not achieving the commercial success of their previous albums with EMI, it garnered widespread critical acclaim. The album peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and quickly dropped out of the Top 75 after two weeks, which contrasted with their earlier Top 10 successes.
Critically, "Afraid of Sunlight" was highly regarded and recognized among Marillion's finest works. It was notably included in Q magazine's "Recordings of the Year" for 1995, highlighting its impact and quality in the music industry at that time. Jeri Montesano of Allmusic praised it as "the peak of Marillion's growing, impressive body of work," emphasizing its significance within the band's discography. Jason Ankeny, also from Allmusic, described it as "the most consistent Marillion release to date," underscoring its coherence and artistic achievement.
The album's critical acclaim has contributed to its enduring reputation among fans and critics alike, solidifying "Afraid of Sunlight" as a pivotal album in Marillion's career, despite its commercial performance at the time of its release.
