Welsh cutting edge act DUB WAR debuted with the 1994 'Pain' album. The band made an immediate impression with their unashamed and innovative combination of Ragga and Punk tinged Nu-Metal. DUB WAR headlined the 'Earache Next Gen' tour in '98 above MISERY LOVES CO, PULKAS and JANUS STARK. Although the London Astoria show fared well the audiences on mainland Europe were less than impressed with audience attendances being in the tens rather than the hundreds. DUB WAR made solid progress in the UK however, even making an impression on the national charts.

In late 1998 Benji Webbe departed for an international project MASS MENTAL working alongside such heavyweights as OZZY OSBOURNE and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bassist Robert Trujillo, OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Joe Holmes and former FAITH NO MORE / OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Mike Bordin. Benji also laid down vocals on two songs on Max Cavalera's debut SOULFLY album, 'Prejudice' and 'Quilumbo' and would later appear onstage with the band to perform the tracks on their 1998 European tour. Meantime DUB WAR bass player Richi Glover relocated to London, formulating a band unit with former LEATHERFACE guitarist Dickey Hammond.

Upon his return to the UK after the MASS MENTAL project Benji hooked up with bass player Danite Pea (a.k.a. Daniel Pugsley). Eventually this pairing united with Benji's erstwhile DUB WAR colleagues guitarist Jeff 'Death' Rose and drummer Ginge Ford, then in the midst of working up their own TRIBAL CLASH venture. The quartet duly adopted the name tag SKINDRED and put in an inaugural live showing, in Newport, in October of 1999. The band would be found touting a new demo in 2001, subsequently landing a deal with major label RCA. Although the debut SKINDRED album was at first given a projected title of 'Heavyweight System' it eventually emerged in July of 2002 tagged 'Babylon'.