Juggernaut / FA Ward

A dozen years ago, Reggae Archive Records reissued the classic UK roots 12" Juggernaut from legendary Leicester reggae band Groundation. They were central to a special moment when homegrown UK bands closed the gap with their Jamaican counterparts, matching them in songwriting and musicianship while adding a distinctly British twist.

At the time, much of the music press and buying public dismissed UK reggae as less authentic. Time has told a different story. Four and five decades on, British roots reggae stands as a high point of performance, even if much of it was barely documented when it first appeared.

This reissue of Juggernaut and Fa Ward goes back to the original tape transfers, newly remastered to better the previous edition. Juggernaut is a bass-heavy instrumental loved by sound systems and Jah Shaka fans, while Fa Ward delivers an uplifting vocal before dropping into a heavy dub workout.