Who are The Protomen? Four words: Mega Man Rock Opera. You sold me!

Their self-titled album follows the struggle of Protoman and his younger brother Mega Man as they fight for humanity in the post-apocalyptic world of the tyrannical Dr. Wily. This isn’t the Mega Man canon fans are familiar with but an elaborated universe with twists inspired by the creative license of the band. Though it may not be straight from the boys at Capcom, I’m confident that most Mega Man fans will gobble up the story. If anything, The Protomen transform the story of Mega Man into a more believable, more realistic one, delving far deeper into the human psyche and focusing on our role in the battle between man and machine than the games ever did.

One of the things I appreciate most about the album are the philosophical questions and social critiques it offers. Is humanity doomed to fall into the background of history as machines take over not just our tasks but our livelihood, as well? Are we such a cowardly species as to not stand up for our own freedom, forever dependant on an outside source to break us from whatever chains bind us? The Protomen’s 1984-esque world evokes questions like these and more.

But what exactly do The Protomen sound like? Well, it’s hard to lump these guys into a single category. Their depth and range are definitely illustrated throughout the album. “Unrest in the House of Light” reminds me of a modern day Johnny Cash song. “The Will of One” is electric popish. “The Stand” is a beautiful pseudo-rock-ballad duet. And “Due Vendetta” has an air of hard rock and electronica. But none of these tracks seem out of place. The change in genre from song to song keeps the album fresh and interesting throughout. Think of it like a Gorillaz’s album.

The best part: these guys go on tour to put on live productions of their work. A quick YouTube search will supply plenty of videos of their live performances, which are quite interesting to say the least.

Any Megaman fan should definitely check out The Protomen. They’re available on iTunes, but you can certainly take a taste-test if you search around YouTube.