If you ask any casual music listener what it is about progressive rock that turns them off, they'll more than likely tell you they simply don't have the time to listen to ten minute long musical passages.  We have indeed become a fast food culture, and music and art are no exception to the quick fix mentality which governs the daily life of the modern day human being. 

So then, how to save progressive rock from becoming a relic with nothing left to its name but a chapter in the history books?  Many first generation prog rock bands such as Genesis and Yes gave up and moved towards a more standard pop sound to sell records.  However, certain groups such as Marillion picked up the torch in the 80's and refused to let the genre die.

Thanks to those who refused to quit on prog rock, we are today seeing a resurgance of the genre as a respectable force in the mainstream.  Hot selling progish records by popular acts such as My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, Coheed and Cambria and The Mars Voltae are not uncommon in 2007.

The resurgance of prog rock has not come without some compromise, however.  It is common in todays prog rock to see simplified concepts and shorter song structures take a front seat to complex and longish epics.  Not that the latter isn't present in modern day prog records, but these days you are more likely to see only two or perhaps three extended length works built around a number of shorter, simplified musical passages.

Din Within seem to fully understand the need to simplify prog rock in order to make it accessible to the modern day mainstream.  Awaken The Man, the groups debut release, is filled with melodic pop, rock and jazz influenced songs.  The work is unified and fueled by a concept steeped in downfall and redemption.  A topic which just about anyone can relate to.  Because of this, Din Within should find themselves moving a pretty respectable number of discs. 

If there is one criticism I can offer of this disc, it's that the vocals are occasionally a bit clinical.  Perfectly done, but lacking the full emotional impact which would take certain moments on this disc into the musical stratosphere,  It's as though a superb instrumentalist with good back up singer skills stepped in to do the lead vocals.  If this is the case, then Din Within may wish to add a new member to the band.  A pure vocalist who approaches the material from an emotiional rather than a technical viewpoint.

This is a very minor inconvenience, however.  The musicianship and song craft are more than strong enough to carry the day.  Click on the left hand side of your screen to listen to the sample tracks on this disc.  Then be prepared to get out your wallet.  This is one you're going to wand to add to your collection.
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If you love your progressive rock with awesome, catchy and memorable hooks and melodies, masterful instrumental technique and feel, epic songs with HUGE bombastic endings and some of the best prog lyrics you'll ever hear, then look no further.  This CD will NOT disappoint.

Any fan of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Neal Morse, The Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree, et al, needs to just drop whatever they are doing and get this disc.  No, I really mean it, stop what you are doing *right this minute* and go buy this CD.    It stayed in my player for at least three weeks and I still spin it daily and find myself humming the melodies when I'm away from a stereo....it's THAT good.

"Awaken The Man" will awaken your love of awesome melodic progressive rock and I'm sure you'll be just as floored by the incredibly skilled songwriting and musicianship on display here.  I predict big things for DIN WITHIN.
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