Seventeen years after Act II, Murfreesboro-born Nintendocore rock opera collective The Protomen finally delivers Act III: This City Made Us, the long-awaited next chapter in the band’s Mega Man-inspired saga. What began as a 2003 MTSU College of Mass Communications project and evolved into one of Nashville’s most ambitious touring acts has become something far larger than its video game-inspired origins. Released Jan. 9, 2026, through Sound Machine Records, Act III stands as the band’s biggest, most cinematic work yet.
Musically, The Protomen continue expanding the arena-rock, synthwave and theatrical foundation established across the first two acts.
Act III begins as our protagonist stands atop the end of crowded buildings, staring into the cool night air above the skyline. At the outskirts of the city, several falling stars shrill over her to the horizon; there’s a thrill to survival as night covers the city in this beautiful, short-lived synth-instrumental intro, “The Calm.”
Voiced by Gambler Kirkdouglas, The Girl speaks at a resistance meeting right after the blast on the south side of the city as The Human Choir chants There must be an end to the darkness. Until Light!
Soon, with an ascension of Meat Loaf proportions, Protomen Shock Magnum and Dr. Robert Bakkar, arena-arc their guitar solos into the heavens, far above the cityscape.
“Buried in the Red” finds Raul Panther III delivering a strong Dr. Wily performance, set to some guitar work with a George Thorogood swagger mixed with a punchy vintage organ and some Dokken-style glam metal solos.
Ultimately, a symphony of characters come together for the biggest flood of emotions and end-of-the-ropes intensity from any of the three acts, yet, occurring through the final three or four tracks are “Light’s Last Stand” (knowing it’s the final battle); “The Good Doctor: Part 2” (accountability for your past, and the understanding that goes with it); and “The Fate of Thomas Light,” which had me in the hallway floor.
Without the librettos to read, it’s up to the listener’s own optimistic or pessimistic take as to what the final two songs lead into.
Protomen’s Act III: This City Made Us is available through protomen.com, and directly through theprotomen.bandcamp.com, where the CDs are kept and the album streams. The band hit #4 in the nation the week of Feb. 10 because of those CD sales. At $10, very worth it.
