1) Raggae metal … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two groups sharing the name Dub War:
1) Raggae metal band from the UK;
2) 2-step UK garage / dubstep duo.
1) Formed in 1993, Dub War were a rock antidote to the Britpop hegemony.
Diminutive, livewire frontman Benji Webbe joined three established Newport musicians, and released a couple of 12" singles and a now sought-after mini album with local hardcore label Words Of Warning. The Dub Warning mini album was released in 1994, then, following a rapid rise in their profile, re-released with extra tracks as Words Of DubWarning later in the year.
Explosive live performances, always prefaced by Webbe winding a huge air raid siren, propelled their public profile upwards and while the indie press concentrated on the likes of Sleeper, Menswear and Echobelly, Dub War carved out a niche for themselves with discerning and open-minded rock fans.
Extreme music label Earache decided that Dub War were perfect for their roster and by 1995 they'd inked the deal. Pain was released in the same year, and featured two tracks that became over time rock club floor-filling staples. Gorrit took Faith No More and made it even more intense and twisted, while Strike It was a huge shout-along with an infectious rap metal refrain.
Dub War were never the types to tread water, so after the Pain album cycle, they experimented more with their sounds and influences, trying to avoid being pigeonholed in any one bracket. The new material was softer, more subtle, and without some of the bombast of their previous material. It was challenging - and of course that has knock-on effects when an audience expects a certain sound.
The singles Enemy Maker and Cry Dignity weren't a million miles from their previous hit singles, but their impact was minimal. The release of Wrong Side Of Beautiful in late 1996 saw their live reputation unchanged but their chart action lessened. They released the Soundclash EP, which showcased their dance influences the same year.
1997 saw the last singles from their second album proper released, then in 1998 they began to lay the foundations for their current work. Webbe stepped out on his own with his 1999 sideproject Mass Mental? (featuring Robert Trujillo of Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves and Metallica) as well as two guest appearances with ex-Sepultura man Max Cavalera's new outfit Soulfly.
In 1999 the band split, with Webbe, Rose and Ford reforming as Skindred, and Glover joining The Jones. Following the release of their debut album, Babylon, in late 2002 Ginge and Jeff left Skindred, citing their record label's constant lack of support for the band as their source of frustration, especially after their decade of hard work and still having to work day jobs. Skindred now continues with an all new line-up, whilst the rest of Dub War, namely Jeff, Ginge and Richie regrouped as Raw Bud (released as Raw Bud Vs Roni Size on their debut single, Rise Up). In 2010, Earache released The Dub, The War & The Ugly, a CD & DVD compilation package that included unreleased demos for the band's never-released third album, along with rare tracks, a DVD of an entire live concert as well as a documentary and all of the group's music videos.
2) UK garage/dubstep group consisting of Benny Ill and B. Fuller. They released the cult Murderous Style/Generation 12" on Tempa in 2001.
Mental
Dub War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whicha gun or with a knife
Strangulation out your light
Me no man no trouble
Me no man a strife
Live it good and live it right
Crazy people in the community
Murder in the backyard
Too much murder in the backyard
Cain slew abel the very first murder
After dat it got worster and worster
All the old boy a pop on a pop
Lick lick lick lick lick lick shot
In your front or in your back
They don't care they ain't got no mercy
Compassion blood thirsty
Bomb construction
Forest destruction
Pollution
Volcano eruption
What's it gonna be like in 2033
Will we see the extinction of every species
Including you
And including me
The song "Mental" by Dub War is an intense commentary on the senseless violence that plagues many communities around the world. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos and despair, with constant references to killing and murder, and the overwhelming feeling that things are spiraling out of control. The song opens with the lines "Killing dis and killing dat, whicha gun or with a knife" which suggest that violence is rampant and can be perpetrated in various ways. The chorus "Murder in the backyard, mental it's really mental, too much murder in the backyard" further reinforces the idea that the senseless acts of violence have become a part of ordinary life, and are no longer shocking or surprising.
The song also touches on the broader issues of environmental destruction and impending ecological disaster. The lines "Bomb construction, forest destruction, pollution, volcano eruption" present a bleak picture of the state of the world, where humans have caused significant damage to nature, leading to the irreversible consequences such as climate change and natural disasters. The song ends with a prophetic question, "What's it gonna be like in 2033, will we see the extinction of every species, including you, and including me?", highlighting the urgent need to address the environmental crisis before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Killing dis and killing dat
Casual elimination of people without remorse.
Whicha gun or with a knife
Different methods of killing. Guns vs knives.
Strangulation out your light
Killing someone by choking them till they pass out.
Me no man no trouble
I am not the type of person who seeks trouble.
Me no man a strife
I am not a confrontational person.
Live it good and live it right
Live a peaceful, innocent life.
Crazy people in the community
There are mentally unstable individuals in the society.
Murder in the backyard
Homicides happening nearby or in the vicinity.
Mental it's really mental
The situation is truly insane.
Too much murder in the backyard
There are too many homicides happening nearby or in the vicinity.
Cain slew abel the very first murder
The killing of Abel by Cain is the oldest recorded homicide.
After dat it got worster and worster
The situation kept deteriorating with time.
All the old boy a pop on a pop
The elders have become killers too.
Lick lick lick lick lick lick shot
Refers to the sound of repeated gunfire.
In your front or in your back
People will kill you regardless of how you stand aligned to them.
They don't care they ain't got no mercy
The killer does not care about showing compassion or mercy.
Compassion blood thirsty
The killer seeks blood and enjoys the act of killing.
Bomb construction
Buildup of explosives for lethal purposes.
Forest destruction
Clearing up the forests for other purposes resulting in a loss of natural resources.
Pollution
Contamination of the environment and natural resources.
Volcano eruption
A metaphor suggesting that society has already reached a boiling point.
What's it gonna be like in 2033
What is the future going to look like in terms of violence and environmental degradation?
Will we see the extinction of every species
Is humankind destroying the environment in such an intense rate that we could see the extinction of every species including humans?
Including you
It's not just about others, but it also pertains to the life of the person listening to the song.
And including me
The songwriter is not immune to the catastrophic future they are suggesting.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LaMortDeLaMusique
I see Earache are making the most of Dub War's reunion
@antonstefanov2146
Big ups to whoever mixed this album, I remember when I got this on tape and was super stoked to hear what's inside. They were experimental and new sounding and most importantly they were in a league and style of their own.
@fashisti1
AMAZING SONG , , UNDEATHABLE! ;-) PERFECT !!
@philjohnson5669
Brilliant band - saw them supporting New Model Army...a few years ago.
@roberttepala725
Fantastic.
@user-id4rh2je8e
MENTAL
DUB WAR
@wispa1a
Benji.
Such a nice guy lol.
@andrewvare3173
Got turned onto Dub War when they were soundtracked for a surf video awhile back. They in my mix in heavy rotation ever since.
@Mythrium15
The singer in the video is from Skindred I think?
@LaMortDeLaMusique
Mythrium15 This iwas his first band, waayy back in the 90s. After Dub War broke up he was briefly in a band with Robert Trujillo called Mass Mental (who are ongoing) and guested on Soulfly's first album before forming Skindred around the turn of the century.