Little is known about the Protomen, other than the band is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Because the band often responds to interviews and questions in-character, their own descriptions of their history are delivered with the dramatic flair of their storyline concept and their comments can not always be taken at face value. Their code-names are largely references to pop culture films, song titles, and fictional characters.
The band is composed mostly of MTSU recording program graduates, and first came to be so they could meet class deadlines and the need to record for [their] grades. They produced their first album over two years in various Murfreesboro studios, using analog rather than digital production. Most of the band had graduated and moved to Nashville by 2005.
Group member Commander has stated that their first album was deliberately designed to sound like "distorted pencil sharpeners about 90% of the time" and "was made specifically to go against everything our recording teachers and fellow students were trying to feed us about making everything sound pristine and 'perfect.'. The tracks were mixed on analog tape.
In a 2009 interview, lead vocalist Panther stated, "We basically gathered up all of our good friends from the local rock bands of Murfreesboro, tied ourselves together, and tried to walk. And somehow it worked. At the time, we noticed a void in rock and roll. A hole that could only really be filled with grown men and women painting up like robots and playing some fierce and furious rock music based on a 1980's video game. We were fairly certain no one else was going to fill that hole. But, by god, it's filled now. You can thank us later."
The band has strong ties to the Murfreesboro and Nashville independent music scene, and some members are integrated into several bands simultaneously.
Vengeance
The Protomen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The voices of the men and women carry him forward. Megaman has no fear now that freedom is near.
Standing between the sea of men and Megaman's final purpose is an army of robots, commanded by one leader. This is not Dr. Wily. Wily has no power on a field of battle. This is Wily's second in command. His face is shrouded in the shadow of the fortress, his rough features and solid construction obscured by the void of light.
The robots advance.
One by one they will fall. No mercy will be shown. No hesitation. These are machines. They cannot feel pain. They cannot understand what drives Megaman onward. The rage is lost on these soldiers. Megaman has his target now. The Commander of this army will fall. All the wreckage he must wade through to get there is insignificant.
Megaman: Send your armies.
who can stop me,
and you'll soon see.
I come for vengeance
for the first Son of Light, and I'm ready, and I'm willing, and I'm prepared to...
Send me the best you've got. Send me your strongest machines.
The fight my brother fought, here, now, will end with me.
All you wounded, those of you who can, pick yourselves off the ground,
Hurry back, tell your leader you'll need more men.
Send me the best you've got. Send me your strongest machines.
The fight my brother fought, here, now, will end with me.
Is this the best you've got? Is this your strongest machine?
Now with one powershot, you'll see what vengeance means.
Nearing the gate and the leader of the Robot Army, Megaman's fury yields to confusion. This Commander is not just a machine.
The shadow, it covers your face but your eyes shine just like mine.
Step forward, step into the light if you're ready, and you're willing, and you're prepared to fight.
So be it, send your armies. There's no man or machine who can stop me, and you'll soon see.
I come for vengeance for the first Son of Light and I'm ready, and I'm willing, and I'm prepared to fight.
Send me the best you've got. Send me your strongest machines.
The fight my brother fought, here, now, will end with me.
Is this the best you've got? Is this your strongest machine?
Now with one powershot, you'll see what vengeance means.
Just before the shot rang out, the blast that would end this battle, the commander stepped out of the shadows and into the light. This was a face our Hero had seen before, in visions and dreams. This was not the face of evil.
This was the face of a Hero.
The face of a Son.
The face of his Brother.
This was Protoman.
The lyrics to The Protomen's song Vengeance detail the story of Megaman preparing for his final battle against the army of robots commanded by Wily's second in command. The human choir affirm that they are in control, and Megaman, having no fear now that freedom is near, faces down the army one robot at a time. He knows that the Commander is his ultimate target and all the wreckage in his path is insignificant. Megaman challenges the Commander to send his strongest machines, and he will still emerge victorious.
As Megaman nears the gate and the leader of the robot army, he is confused as he realizes that this commander is not just a machine, but a face he has seen before in visions and dreams. Just before the final battle, it is revealed that the Commander is not Megaman's enemy, but his own brother and fellow Son of Light, Protoman. This realization forces Megaman to make a difficult choice, putting his vengeance on hold and opening the path for the next chapter of their story to unfold.
The song reflects themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and questioning the true nature of heroism. The lyrics suggest that not all battles are between good and evil, and the heroes themselves may be fighting on opposite sides of the same conflict. The Protomen's use of orchestration and rock opera elements adds to the epic nature of the song and its portrayal of this dramatic moment in the story of Megaman and Protoman.
Line by Line Meaning
Send your armies.
Megaman challenges the Robot Army to come fight him.
There's no man or machine who can stop me, and you'll soon see.
Megaman has no fear and is confident in his abilities.
I come for vengeance for the first Son of Light, and I'm ready, and I'm willing, and I'm prepared to...
Megaman is seeking revenge for the fallen Son of Light and is ready for the fight.
Send me the best you've got. Send me your strongest machines.
Megaman challenges the Robot Army to send their best and strongest robots to fight him.
The fight my brother fought, here, now, will end with me.
Megaman is determined to finish the fight his brother started.
All you wounded, those of you who can, pick yourselves off the ground, Hurry back, tell your leader you'll need more men.
Megaman encourages the wounded soldiers to get up and tell their leader to send more soldiers.
Is this the best you've got? Is this your strongest machine? Now with one powershot, you'll see what vengeance means.
Megaman taunts the Robot Army, asking if this is all they have and promising to show them the meaning of vengeance with one shot.
The shadow, it covers your face but your eyes shine just like mine.
Megaman sees his own eyes shining in the face of the Robot Army's leader, covered in shadow.
Step forward, step into the light if you're ready, and you're willing, and you're prepared to fight.
Megaman challenges the Robot Army's leader to step out of the shadows and into the light if they are ready for the fight.
So be it, send your armies. There's no man or machine who can stop me, and you'll soon see. I come for vengeance for the first Son of Light and I'm ready, and I'm willing, and I'm prepared to fight.
Megaman accepts the challenge and reiterates his readiness for vengeance and determination to fight.
Now with one powershot, you'll see what vengeance means.
Megaman is confident that one powerful shot is all it will take to show the Robot Army the true meaning of vengeance.
Contributed by Jake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hailey Sionnach
"Hurry back, tell your leader you need more men!" That always gives me chills.
Tyler Hamblen
Hailey Sionnach Really? That's the part that pumps me up
Hailey Sionnach
Well yes that too- It's one of the best taunts I've ever heard to this day.
ArlanKels
5 years later
Really like this song and I'm wondering if there are any other bands/songs that have a similar style?
TheNiccodemus
I just used that line as a taunt in a superheroes tabletop game and came here to listen to the song again.
Nathan Paschall
Yeah this song is the epitome of the old British taunt "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" and I am all for it.
Stanley Smith
They recorded this album via analog instead of digital recording to give it a raw sound. They took everything their teachers and professionals they knew had taught them about recording and threw it out the window. Good choice if you ask me. I love this band.
Someone You Don't Know
"Machine seller, I require your strongest machines."
Lupus Albus
You can not handle my machines, warrior
Dubloh
"Just before the shot rang out, the blast that would end this battle, the commander stepped out of the shadows and into the light. This was a face our Hero had seen before, in visions and dreams. This was not the face of evil. This was the face of a Hero. The face of a Son. The face of his Brother." Chills down my spine.