The Protomen are a band hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, and are known primarily for their adaptation of the classic 8-bit NES Megaman series into a modern rock opera. As is typical of the rock opera genre, heavy emphasis is placed on the conceptual story of the album in addition to its musical content. The Protomen succeed in transforming the mindless platforming video game into an in-depth study of a conventional Joseph-Campbell-esque hero.
The music tells the story of Megaman, the android savior of the remnants of the humanity, who live under the heel of Dr. Wily and his team of robot lieutenants. People who are familiar with the Megaman series are probably already familiar with the premise of the story; what will most likely surprise them, however, is the rather dark direction that the Protomen take the Megaman franchise. Wily’s regime is notably Orwellian, and humanity is oppressed to the point that it may be beyond saving. The central focus of the story is on heroism; Megaman’s brother and predecessor, Protoman, is hailed as a hero by the ignorant masses, but is struck down and killed by Wily’s forces in full view of the public. The masses return to their cowering ways, unmoved and unchanged by Protoman’s act of defiance against the established authority. Megaman wishes to take up the mantle of the champion and avenge his android brother, but Dr. Light, creator and father-figure of the two brothers, opposes the decision after witnessing humanity’s unwillingness to fight for themselves.
Megaman is eventually successful in his solitary crusade against Wily’s regime, but only through self-sacrifice and the cost of his own idealism. He is forced to confront a rebuilt Protoman, who sides with Wily after being embittered by humanity’s lack of courage following his sacrifice; “I’ve given everything I can/ There are no heroes left in man.” Megaman defeats his brother, but when the crowd praises him and condemns the fallen Protoman, he is disgusted and leaves mankind to fend for itself against Wily’s remaining forces.
The music is typical rock material, with lots of heavy guitar work and synthesizers occasionally slipping in 8-bit sounds for nostalgia’s sake. Musical references to the themes from the NES games are scattered throughout their songs. Live performances are done with members of band wearing motorcycle helmets modified to represent the various characters in the opera, accompanied with wild hand gestures done in time with heavy guitar riffs. Despite the goofy nature of the subject material, the band seems to take itself very seriously, and rightly so. The Protomen provide an insightful, mature spin on what most would consider childish source material without relying on cheap gimmickry to appease its original fanbase.