There exists a uniquely creative brand of music that is generally labeled "progressive." Quite often it is the artists and groups who most overflow with pretentiousness and egocentricity that are drawn to and create this type of music. The long instrumental passages, complex time signatures, and unique orchestration in progressive music are perfect breeding grounds for musicians looking to placate their large egos. Had Mark Gollihur and Josh Sager—the minds and hearts behind Din Within—created this project when they first met in college, this would definitely be another one of those groups.

But Din Within is about the here and now, and Mark and Josh have changed.

The duo met in the early 90's at college, while both were performing with progressive metal groups. Josh was the guitarist in the group Amsterdam, a Fates Warning-esque quartet with rapid-fire riffing and wicked time changes (years before the stupid "math metal" genre popped up). At the same time, Mark was a founding member and songwriter in Ransomed Soul, a power trio which found itself caught in a genre niche somewhere between Queensrÿche and King's X. Both bands pounded it out on the regional rock circuit for several years with a modicum of success. However, the futility of playing challenging music in an artistic Mecca like southern New Jersey finally drained their spirits sufficiently enough to suffocate their dreams of prog-metal stardom.

After the breakup of Amsterdam and short stints with a few other musical projects, Josh took a self-imposed break from performing and writing to pursue other interests. Mark, too, came out of a short musical hiatus and co-formed Second Story®, a female-fronted neo-progressive project that recorded two albums and played quite a few shows over their eight-year career.

After returning from his self-imposed sabbatical, Josh began working with Second Story keyboardist (and good friend) John Lewis in an electronica project called Snowcrash; he has also worked on solo electronica, jazz, and contemporary classical pieces. Mark has been a part of some side projects as well, including the symphonic electronica project Mercury Deep and rock/metal solo project Fenton Hardy.

In 2003, Josh and Mark found themselves talking to each other regularly about what they loved and hated about playing and writing music. They found that there was a lot of common ground between them, and discussed starting a cooperative musical venture; different than the ones they were a part of in the past. This project would be one wherein they could set their preconceptions aside and create music without the impassioned arguments, bruised egos, and, well... bullshit, getting in the way. They had both tired of trying to "win" all the time, and realized that their way may not be the only way. (Seems like a simple enough concept, but not necessarily so for progressive musicians.) As a result, Mark and Josh agreed to get together to flesh out their musical ideas in an open-minded series of writing/recording sessions. It wasn't long before they realized there was something to the collaboration, and soon thereafter Din Within was born.

With a pre-nuptial contract to "agree to disagree" in cases of creative stalemates, an understanding that previous instrument roles are irrelevant, and the freedom to try any and all musical ideas before deciding on the "right" one, songs starting developing immediately. Although the music still errs on the side of "progressive," the stigmas attached have been put behind them. Josh and Mark have found this pairing to be both educational and fruitful. It's a truly democratic environment, and it works. What has developed is a great musical collaboration with even greater musical results.

And they hope that, after listening to the fruits of their labor, you agree.