The Protomen - The Protomen

The Protomen. The Protomen. 2005. 4.5 stars.

This monster of a prog-rock album follows the back story of Capcom’s Megaman series and delivers its narrative in the most epic, dystopian way possible. Crafting a concept album around a video game may seem insane, but The Protomen have clearly produced one of the most electric and exciting albums of its kind in quite some time. The album immediately sets the stage for post-apocalyptic action, describing the dark Orwellian world ruled by Dr. Wiley and his army of evil robots and the sole inventor, Dr. Light, who secretly creates mankind’s only salvation. The story is surprisingly easy to follow across these jams, drawing on themes of vengeance and duty, capturing the throes of a science fiction battle quite beautifully.

The music itself is consistently interesting, with plenty of electronic effects, slamming piano keys and stunning vocal performances (my friend mistook the lead singer for Matthew Good as he passed by). The Protomen take several pages from prog-rock and glam-rock theatrics, with shades of Rush, Queen and perhaps The Mars Volta thrown in for good measure. Everything from the guitar solos to the urgency of its lyrics make this album an incredibly fun and satisfying listen. The Protomen take their source material quite seriously, with an explosive performance that focuses on the thematics of the game, rather than camp factor or straight parody.

While it may take a few tracks to get into the album’s universe, once you hit fiery songs like “The Will of One” or “The Stand (Man or Machine)” you’ll realize that something truly magical is taking place, elevating this far above being mere fan boy material. Even if you have no interest in Megaman, or any video game whatsoever, the lyrical themes are strong enough on their own to carry this. When it comes to hair-raising performances, The Protomen are just as brave and heroic as their patron saint.
Ps. Be sure to check out the band’s website, its really interactive and trippy.

“The Will of One”

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