The 10 bands who won Download festival 2026 From historic headliners to exciting new bands, Download 2026 was one for the books. Here are the 10 best sets from this year's festival Metal Hammer · Jun 16
"We never fit into any scene or genre, ever, so all our friends are weirdos." What happened when we took Skindred record shopping in Newport Genre-smashing Welsh rockers Skindred undertake Classic Rock's £50 vinyl challenge Metal Hammer · May 13
"We were a bunch of Black kids whose parents had passed away and we were feral." From falling out with Manic Street Preachers and writing songs for Ozzy to a number one album, how Skindred's Benji Webbe became a British metal icon Benji Webbe has faced his share of hardships - and come out as a resilient force of positivity in British metal Metal Hammer · Apr 29
"One of the year’s most instantaneous, joyous, technicolour listens." Mixing reggae, heavy metal, punk, hip hop and pop and never missing a beat, Skindred's You Got This is the burst of sunshine you need Headlining Wembley Arena, selling out shows and climbing the charts: the future has never looked brighter for Skindred Metal Hammer · Apr 23
Classic Rock's Tracks Of The Week: March 9, 2026 Eight songs you need to hear right now, from Skindred, Cheap Trick, Suzi Quatro and more Louder · Mar 9
‘We had no future. So we made a future for ourselves’: the untold history of Welsh reggae sound systems A country known more for rock and choral music was a hotspot of the dub reggae sound system scene in the 70s. Rival crews recall Cardiff’s riotous parties – and racist hostility The Guardian - UK · Mar 4
"That video game opened us up to a whole new audience, like Top Of The Pops did to me when I was a little kid." The unlikely hit mixing reggae and heavy metal that a meddling producer wanted to delete from history How Skindred hit on the ragga-metal classic that would save frontman Benji Webbe’s career Metal Hammer · Dec 9, 2025
Pre-order new Skindred album You Got This on marble orange vinyl, exclusively through Metal Hammer Get a version of the ragga-metal outfit’s upcoming album that you won’t find on shop shelves Metal Hammer · Nov 5, 2025
“Ninety per cent of drummers are interchangeable, but you definitely know when he’s playing… I wish I could be as creative as him”: If a Skindred show slumps, Phil Collins saves the day Welsh metal band’s drummer Arya Goggin hails the Genesis icon and reveals some of his secrets Metal Hammer · Jan 30, 2025
Underground rapper Lemfreck wins 2024 Welsh music prize Newport-raised rapper wins £10,000 as judges herald ‘vision and ambition’ of three-part album Blood, Sweat & Fears The Guardian - UK · Oct 9, 2024
"It might just be the greatest Skindred show of all time." Benji Webbe's ragga metal party boys steal Friday night at Glastonbury Skindred don't do bad sets, but this was something special Metal Hammer · Jun 30, 2024
“Our live show is some next-level energy”: Ragga metal pioneers Skindred announce autumn UK tour Benji Webbe and the boys will hit the road again from October to November Metal Hammer · May 15, 2024
“I started watching people like the Pope - when he turns up you know he’s in the room!”: Skindred frontman Benji Webbe on how he became metal’s most flamboyant frontman And it’s not just onstage, either – the singer says sometimes he’ll do the gardening in one of his sequinned jackets Metal Hammer · Apr 20, 2024
"That was a special adventure – I wouldn’t be here without him": Robert Trujillo says he'd love to work with Ozzy Osbourne again and reveals the classic cult supergroup he wants to resurrect Even with a massive world tour looming, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo shares some ideas on how he could keep busy in 2024 Metal Hammer · Mar 26, 2024
Metal Hammer · Mar 20, 2024 Watch Skindred perform ragga metal banger Nobody on Conan O’Brien in 2004 – almost 20 years before it went viral on Tiktok 19 years before it became a Tiktok trend, Skindred’s Nobody ignited US airwaves thanks to the support of metal champion Conan O’Brien
Metal Hammer · Mar 16, 2024 “This is the most vulnerable Skindred fans have ever seen, yet that only strengthens the connection”: Skindred bring ragga metal anthems, beach balls and more than a little emotion to their monumental Wembley Arena show Hot off earning Tiktok stardom and scoring a UK number two album, ragga metal masters Skindred play a career-affirming showcase at one of London’s most legendary venues
Louder · Feb 2, 2024 "Some people expect us to be a woman and instead they get three greasy boys playing rock music": Florence Black are fiery proof that Welsh rock is on the rise With Skindred, Florence Black, Those Damn Crows and Scarlet Rebels all hitting the charts, music from Wales is once again on the map
Metal Hammer · Jan 4, 2024 "I just wanted to kill everybody in the room!" How Warning revitalised Skindred's career, gave us the iconic Newport Helicopter and confirmed them as British metal's greatest party band Skindred were on shaky ground come 2011. Then frontman Benji hooked up with Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix and wrote an absolute banger
Louder · Nov 26, 2023 “That was it for me, I knew I wanted to play rock’n’roll”: Skindred’s Benji Webbe on the moment he realised he wanted to be a rock star The Skindred singer was inspired by his older brother and never looked back
Metal Hammer · Aug 30, 2023 "I get the opportunity to give people a little hope in the darkness, and that’s more important to me than any cheque": From council estates to festival stages, Skindred are still on the rise In their 25 years, by their own admission Skindred have “never been massively commercially successful or super-cool”. But with new album Smile they reckon it's time
Metal Hammer · Aug 8, 2023 Skindred are poised at #1 in the midweek album chart: these are the six songs you need to know As Skindred battle it out at the top of the UK album charts, these six songs will tell you why Newport's ragga-metal heroes are flying so high
The Guardian - UK · Aug 3, 2023 Skindred: Smile review – Welsh ragga-metallers mix a joyous sonic cocktail One minute it’s riffs and political rage, the next it’s summery reggae. Thanks to their craft – and frontman Benji Webbe’s joie de vivre – the band’s barrier-breaking album is a treat
Metal Hammer · Jul 16, 2023 "Eurovision? If we got the opportunity, we’d sing it loud and proud." Skindred's Benji Webbe talks love, nu metal and that TikTok craze We find out what makes irrepressible Skindred frontman Benji Webbe tick
Manchester Evening News · Jul 8, 2023 Kiss screech, growl and spit blood during thrilling set at Manchester's AO Arena The rockers fly through the air, shoot sparks from their guitars and hurtle through 50 years of hits during this thrilling, silly show.
Metal Hammer · Apr 21, 2023 Soulfly at 25: how Max Cavalera assembled the metal avengers to save himself from grief, depression and addiction After leaving Sepultura following the death of his stepson, Max Cavalera was at his lowest ebb. Then he got an idea for something new