History Music / Skindred

[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Widely celebrated]] Welsh GenreMashup band known for fusing, as they state in one of their songs, {{Reggae}}, HeavyMetal, PunkRock and HipHop. Specifically, the reggae influence comes from [[FaceOfTheBand Benji Webbe]], who combines dancehall-style Ragga singing/rapping with Metal [[HarshVocals shouts and growls]]. Sometimes compared to Music/BadBrains and Music/SystemOfADown, Skindred has been the subject of much appraisal for their unique sound and mostly lighthearted lyrics. They're even popular among {{Metalhead}}s, who normally dismiss any musical fusion that has [[RapMetal Metal and Rap]], wary of any connection to NuMetal. (Benji jokes that they're "Nu Reggae" instead).

[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Widely celebrated]] Welsh NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly band known for fusing, as they state in one of their songs, {{Reggae}}, HeavyMetal, PunkRock and HipHop. Specifically, the reggae influence comes from [[FaceOfTheBand Benji Webbe]], who combines dancehall-style Ragga singing/rapping with Metal [[HarshVocals shouts and growls]]. Sometimes compared to Music/BadBrains and Music/SystemOfADown, Skindred has been the subject of much appraisal for their unique sound and mostly lighthearted lyrics. They're even popular among {{Metalhead}}s, who normally dismiss any musical fusion that has [[RapMetal Metal and Rap]], wary of any connection to NuMetal. (Benji jokes that they're "Nu Reggae" instead).

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: See above.

* MohsScaleOfLyricalHardness: Their more serious songs reach a 7 or 8. "Guntalk" is at least a 9.
* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: From a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 9.

NeedsWikiMagicLove.

** "Ninja" contains samples from Super Street Fighter.

Skindred were formed in 1998, in the wake of the collapse of Benji's old band, Dub War, which had a similar reggae/metal fusion. After unsuccessful stints on major labels, during which two different versions of the band's debut, ''Babylon'' were released, they finally signed to the Florida independent label, Bieler Bros., and released six more albums, ''Roots Rock Riot'', ''Shark Bites and Dog Fights'', ''Union Black'', ''Kill The Power'', ''Volume'' and ''Big Tings''.

* ''Kill The Power'' (2014)

* AWildRapperAppears: The rapper is always Benji. He does this most prominently in the verses of "Babylon", "Rat Race" and "Living A Lie"

* CoverSong:
** "Electric Avenue", originally by Eddy Grant, on ''Shark Bites and Dog Fights''.

* MetalScream: uses type 1 and type 2 very frequently.

** ''Volume'' went back to a more guitar, bass and drums centric approach, with the electronics being based more around samples and sound design. It's the only album that Dan Sturgess contributed to as a full member, which would explain the changes.

** "Kill The Power" samples "Afroamerica" by Continent Number 6.

* OldShame: ''Shark Bites and Dog Fights''. The band considers it their weakest album; they never play any songs off of it live anymore (not even the earworm-worthy "Stand For Something") and it isn't even available on any streaming services.
** It's been implied by Benji that he views ''Kill The Power'' in this way too because [[CreatorBreakdown it was a very tough album to make]], however they still play quite a few songs from it live and "Ninja" and the album's title track remain solid fan favourites.

* StepUpToTheMic: During live performances, Mikey often sings Jacoby Shaddix's parts in "Warning" and Gary Stringer's parts in "Start The Machine".

* EpicRiff: Predictably for a metal-influenced band, there are plenty of them. They're not always on guitars either: "Stand For Something" has a big riff that's played on a synthesizer!

* EpicRiff: Predictably for a metal-influenced band, there are plenty of them. They're not always on guitars either: "Stand For Something's" big riff is played on a synthesizer!

* {{Sampling}}: They do A LOT of this, probably unsurprisingly considering their influences from reggae and hip-hop.

** It's been implied by Benji that he views ''Kill The Power'' in this way too, however they still play quite a few songs from it live and "Ninja" and the album's title track remain solid fan favourites.

* LighterAndSofter: ''Big Tings'' as a whole, but especially "Saying It Now".

* SurprisinglyGentleSong: A few: "The Fear", "Guntalk" and "We Live" are the two most obvious examples.

* {{Sampling}}: "The Fear". It's based around samples from Music/TheClash song "Music/LondonCalling".

* Benji Webbe (vocals, synthesizers)
* Mikey Demus (guitars, backing vocals)
* Daniel Pugsley (bass, programming, backing vocals)
* Arya Goggin (drums)

* NewSoundAlbum: ''Union Black'' introduced Dubstep influences to their sound.

* SignatureStyle: Hard-hitting metal with hip-hop beats and reggae rapping. Benji Webbe has jokingly called it "Nu-reggae" in the past.

* SurprisinglyGentleSong: A few: "The Fear" and "Guntalk" are the two most obvious examples.

Skindred were formed in 1998, in the wake of the collapse of Benji's old band, Dub War, which had a similar reggae/metal fusion. After unsuccessful stints on major labels, during which two different versions of the band's debut, ''Babylon'' were released, they finally signed to the Florida independent label, Bieler Bros., and released five more albums, ''Roots Rock Riot'', ''Shark Bites and Dog Fights'', ''Union Black'', ''Kill The Power'' and ''Volume''.