Beyond World War III

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Lincoln Journal Star	[9]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide	[8]
Oakland Tribune	[4]
Reggae & Caribbean Music	7/10[10]
Rolling Stone	[11]
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide	[12]
Spin	8/10[13]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae	[14]

The Boston Globe said that "the excellent [Roots Radics Band] thumps out a deliberate riff and sticks to it, while Dread chant-sings along in his good-natured, slightly goofy way."^[15] The Lincoln Journal Star noted that, compared to Big Youth and Linton Kwesi Johnson, "Dread has the lightest sound and the catchiest beat".^[9] Rolling Stone praised the "echoing drums and bass" and "smooth yet biting vocals".^[11] The Oakland Tribune called "Israel (12 Tribe) Stylee" "easily one of the strongest dubs ever recorded".^[4]

In 1986, the Santa Cruz Sentinel deemed Beyond World War III "a classic reggae work."^[16] AllMusic said, "Dread's vocals are poised and self-assured; he sings when he feels like it, and lets his ping-ponging freestyle raps carry the track when he doesn't."^[7] Spin noted that Scientist had found "the Spike Jones in King Tubby."^[13] Peter Shapiro, in Modulations: A History of Electronic Music, called Beyond World War III a landmark "in the use of space and effects."^[17]