{"id":4439,"date":"2025-12-14T13:33:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T17:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/?p=4439"},"modified":"2025-12-15T07:58:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:58:29","slug":"protomen-act-iii-bandcampss-most-preordered-album-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/14\/protomen-act-iii-bandcampss-most-preordered-album-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"protomen, bandcamps&#8217;s most preordered album of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/act3_cover_3500_300dpi-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>in a rather touching turn of events the <a href=\"https:\/\/theprotomen.bandcamp.com\/album\/act-iii-this-city-made-us\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/theprotomen.bandcamp.com\/album\/act-iii-this-city-made-us\">protomen&#8217;s 3rd and final album<\/a> was <a href=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/2025\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/2025\/\">announced by bandcamp<\/a> last week as their most pre-ordered album of 2025. whilst completely unexpected, this felt like a just reward for the unique way in which we and the band handled the album&#8217;s artwork and preorder process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1681\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-320x210.jpg 320w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-640x420.jpg 640w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-1536x1009.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-14-at-17.42.07-2048x1345.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>thanks to bandcamp&#8217;s setup the protomen were able to reveal the album&#8217;s cover artwork, start the preorder and then release a song from the album each week like a TV episode. any fans who preordered or signed up to the band&#8217;s mailing list were notified of each episode&#8217;s release each week. each week they were then sent the song&#8217;s &#8220;single artwork&#8221;, which was created in the form of a film poster \/ comic book cover. inspired by the covers of the AKIRA manga by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Katsuhiro_Otomo\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Katsuhiro_Otomo\">katsuhiro otomo<\/a> seen below, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.johndelucca.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.johndelucca.com\">john delucca<\/a> did a drawing each week, and caspar took care of its colouring, typography, texturing and layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1-608x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1-608x900.jpg 608w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1-304x450.jpg 304w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1-768x1136.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1-1038x1536.jpg 1038w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/52518107_1271825002968715_421658478709309440_n-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"584\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tumblr_17b004cd4858031474c1941e7a304891_c7d315fa_1280-584x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tumblr_17b004cd4858031474c1941e7a304891_c7d315fa_1280-584x900.jpg 584w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tumblr_17b004cd4858031474c1941e7a304891_c7d315fa_1280-292x450.jpg 292w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tumblr_17b004cd4858031474c1941e7a304891_c7d315fa_1280-768x1184.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tumblr_17b004cd4858031474c1941e7a304891_c7d315fa_1280.jpg 872w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>all of this perfectly suited the long-form narrative nature of the protomen&#8217;s music. every song on a protomen record is part of a larger story told chronologically and cinematically. therefore to miss a song or to listen to the songs in the wrong order, is akin to missing the beginning of a movie or reading the last chapter of a book first. this all might sound insane, but the protomen formed in the late 90s to tell one story as a rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll opera, and to deliver that story in just three acts. the band released the first act in 2005, and here 20 years later is the last. if you&#8217;re new to the band we suggest, of course, that you <a href=\"https:\/\/theprotomen.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-protomen-act-i\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/theprotomen.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-protomen-act-i\">start at the beginning<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>below are four of the posters we made each week with the release of each new song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7-608x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7-608x900.jpg 608w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7-304x450.jpg 304w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_8s_2000-7.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5-608x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5-608x900.jpg 608w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5-304x450.jpg 304w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_9h_2000-5.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5-608x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5-608x900.jpg 608w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5-304x450.jpg 304w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_13x_2000-5.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"608\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4-608x900.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4-608x900.jpg 608w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4-304x450.jpg 304w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pa3_episodes_15l_2000-4.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>in a rather touching turn of events the protomen&#8217;s 3rd and final album was announced by bandcamp last week as their most pre-ordered album of 2025. whilst completely unexpected, this felt like a just reward for the unique way in which we and the band handled the album&#8217;s artwork and preorder process. thanks to bandcamp&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,6,9,5],"tags":[1196,439,622,1199,17,1198,1016,1002,171,1201,227,121,1003,59,1200,1197],"class_list":["post-4439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio-v","category-blog-v","category-grafiks-v","category-news-v","tag-act-iii","tag-bandcamp","tag-caspar-newbolt","tag-chronological","tag-design","tag-episodic","tag-film-poster","tag-graphic-design","tag-john-delucca","tag-narrative","tag-opera","tag-poster","tag-print-design","tag-protomen","tag-rock-opera","tag-this-city-made-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4439"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4492,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4439\/revisions\/4492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versionindustries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}