Din Within is an American Neo-progressive rock

Neo-progressive rock

Neo-progressive rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today....

 project which was formed in late 2004 by Mark Gollihur and Josh Sager. The duo remain the only core members of the "band," but they enlisted the help of guest musicians in the production of their critically acclaimed debut album, "Awaken the Man," which was released by Zenwater Music/Digital Din on November 13, 2007. The album was written over a course of several years by Gollihur and Sager, which, as they state on their website, was a time of "great personal struggle and growth." Indeed, most of the lyrical concepts on their debut release seem to deal with personal issues of self-discovery and redemption.

The band's style, a blend of styles such as Symphonic rock

Symphonic rock

Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....

, neo-prog, Album-oriented rock

Album-oriented rock

Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...

 (AOR) and traditional Progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

, is heavily influenced by a large variety of progressive rock groups from both sides of the Atlantic and several decades, including the likes of Spock's Beard

Spock's Beard

Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...

, Genesis

Genesis (band)

Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...

, Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...

, Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

, Dream Theater

Dream Theater

Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

, Kansas

Kansas

Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...

 and many more.

Their music also leans heavily on another prog-rock mainstay: the long-format song. With multiple tracks on "Awaken the Man" surpassing 10 minutes in length, it's another aspect of their music that betrays their Art rock

Art rock

Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...

 influences.

Prior to the release of their album, the members of Din Within were relative unknowns; previously, Gollihur co-founded and performed with Second Story, a well-regarded female-fronted symfo group which created good regional buzz and strong critical reviews, but failed to capture commercial success. Both Josh and Mark also performed in several other progressive bands and other groups throughout their youth and early adulthood.

A very early demo version of "Hey You (Part I)" appears on the benefit album "The Tsunami Projekt

The Tsunami Projekt

The Tsunami Projekt was a one-off music compilation CD which was created in early 2005, specifically to aid the people devastated by the Tsunami that struck Asia in December 2004. This "CD Project as Benefit" was conceived and created by the online community of progressive music fans and artists at...

;" the song is largely the same but had the original programmed drum tracks and earlier takes of the vocals and guitar tracks rather than the more polished version found on the 2007 release.

Din Within is

Mark Gollihur: Composer, Vocals, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, Mixing, Synths/Piano/Organ, Drum Programming, Guitars, Production

Josh Sager: Composer, Vocals, Guitars, Recording Engineer, Synths/Piano/Organ, Drum Programming, Bass Guitars, Production

Guest Artists (on "Awaken the Man")

Mike Ian: Drums, Drum Recording Engineer, Production Assistance

Scott McGill: Guitar Solo

Scott Lewis: Backing Vocals, Assistant Engineer

Jess Sager: Backing Vocals

Geoffrey Gollihur: Backing Vocals

Evan Gollihur: Backing Vocals

Honors and awards

The Album Awaken the Man has received the following awards:

• Top Ten Progressive Rock Releases of 2007 (#7) - Epic Prog with the Lurker, ProgRock.com

• Debut of the Year - Glasshuset Progressive Radio Show, Kanal 1 Radio (Norway)

• 4.5 out of 5 rating - Metal Hammer Magazine, March 2008 (Poland)

External Links of Interest

Official Din Within Website

Official Din Within MySpace Page

Press Release for Awaken the Man Album Release