Trying to explain The Protomen to the uninitiated has always been part of the experience. The Nashville-based band doesn’t just release albums, they build worlds, complete with characters, costumes, and a long-running rock opera that unfolds across multiple records.
One of the most vivid explanations of their sound came from Metal Sucks, which described the band’s latest work like this:
“For the uninitiated, The Protomen sound like if Queen and Rush got drunk listening to Devo records, fell into an 80s cyberpunk dystopia, and decided to write a rock opera about the classic video game series, Mega Man. If you enjoy synth-laden epicness that mixes epic 80s power metal with synth rock and a story woven throughout, you’re gonna love it.”
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That quote has been circulating again as the band celebrates the release of ACT III: This City Made Us, the final chapter in their long-running rock opera trilogy. The album was released earlier this month and was Bandcamp’s most pre-ordered album of 2025, a notable milestone for a group that has spent years building a fiercely loyal following through theatrical live shows and ambitious storytelling.
Now, The Protomen are bringing that full saga home.
The band has announced a three-night headlining run at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, set for June 18–20, 2026, with a promise that’s tailor-made for fans who want the complete experience: one full album performed each night.
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The schedule breaks down like this:
- June 18: ACT II: The Father of Death
- June 19: ACT I (The Protomen)
- June 20: ACT III: This City Made Us
While the trilogy draws inspiration from Capcom’s long-running Mega Man franchise, The Protomen have always pushed back on being labeled a “video game music” act. The games serve as narrative scaffolding, not the soundtrack. Musically, the band pulls from classic rock, synth-driven new wave, and arena-sized power rock, blending big hooks with dystopian themes of rebellion, control, and resistance.
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The new album also comes with heavyweight production credentials. ACT III: This City Made Us was mixed and engineered by David Kalmusky (Journey, John Oates, Carrie Underwood) and mastered by Tommy Dorsey (Dolly Parton, Chemical Brothers, Waylon Jennings), underscoring that this is a serious rock release, not a novelty project.
Across streaming platforms, The Protomen have amassed more than 50 million Spotify streams and 28 million YouTube listens, while their live performances have landed them at festivals like Bonnaroo and Vans Warped Tour, as well as pop-culture moments in shows like Cobra Kai. But a hometown, three-night run focused on full-album performances feels like something more personal, a chance to experience the story as it was meant to be told.
Tickets for the Marathon Music Works shows are on sale now.
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