The Protomen

[delirium]

Has anyone listened to this band? I just picked up their newest album after hearing a friend's copy and have been listening to it nonstop. I don't know that there is a better geeky video game-based band out there. The album is written as a story based on the Megaman games. It's suprisingly powerful for a 6 song album based on a game that doesn't have much story to it. The music itself is fairly unique. It reminds me at times of bands such as The Mars Volta and 30 Seconds to Mars... rock based with numerous layers of sound and electronics. Many of the songs have an epic "rock opera" feel to them, particularly the finale.

You can check out the first three tracks here:
http://www.protomen.com/listen.html

and a few of the others on their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/theprotomen

As for the story, it goes something like this:
Dr Wily and his robots have taken over the world and established some sort of dystopian society. Dr Light secretly creates Protoman, a robot designed to free the world, and sends him out to fight. Humankind stands idly by as Protoman finds himself overwhelmed by the odds against him and defeated. Protoman decides that humans are weak and are afraid to risk their lives for their freedom and beliefs. He doesn't understand why he should be expected to fight for them while they do nothing. He devotes himself to destroying humanity. Dr. Light, devastated by the loss of his creation, builds Megaman to take his place. Not wanting to lose the new robot, Light tells Megaman that his brother Protoman was killed by Wily's robots and he shouldn't bother trying to save the world. Despite the advice, Megaman sets out to defeat Wily and avenge Protoman's death. He of course, eventually faces Protoman himself.

[Drastic]

Act II: The Father of Death has been released, telling the prequel story of the schism between Drs. Light and Wily. Like the first album, it's damn good geek rock.