This is Mikey Dread's most celebrated album and has been a very tough one to come up with in the last few years. World War 3 is his style at its finest, featuring excellent instrumentation run through Mikey's totally unique production. He's got a dubbed-up, roots-synthesized sound bubbling under everything. "Break Down The Walls" is the biggest masher here, a feel-good anthem running over the bouncing Rougher Yet riddim. Respect to Uncle Jim for introducing me to that one so many summers ago. The album begins with its most up-beat moment, "Jumping Master," set off by a reverbed record rewind and heavily effected throughout. Mikey Dread name-checks the entire band (Roots Radics), production squad (Tubby, Jammy and Scientist) and whoever else he feels like: "Scientist he a the apprentice masta, Bingy Bunny just a spice up the masta," etc. He switches up the style pretty frequently through tunes like the above, the joyful "Jah Jah Love" and the deep roots sound of "Israel Stylee." 9 tracks total, most appearing in a semi-extended form with plenty of dub time. Recommended.

• 180g transparent yellow colored vinyl
• individually numered + foil-stamped
• limited edition of 1500
• original release year: 1980
• music label: Music On Vinyl 2022

reviewed by the mgmnt 08/2005