Before Benji Webbe took his Newport helicopter to the skies with Skindred, he was already mangling expectations with Dub War. No-one clashed sounds and styles in quite the same way in the mid-’90s, but the band dissolved amidst label troubles, leaving Skindred to take up the baton. Now the originals are back, with their first new album of original material in more than a quarter of a century.
There’s a recognisable style at play for fans of what remains Benji’s day-job, not least because of the frontman’s vocal acrobatics. There are also distinct differences though. Skindred would go on to incorporate more styles but still sound somehow more focused and well-drilled. That isn’t to say there’s anything slack about the playing on here. The three core members know their jobs and the drum seat is filled by a host of guesting luminaries, including Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour, Ministry, Amebix), Faith No More's Mike Bordin and In Flames' Tanner Wayne. There’s no sloppiness, but there is a looser punk rock energy and sense of fun.