Skindred fuses heavy metal, punk rock and reggae influences. The band refers to this style as "Ragga metal". Benji Webbe has also jokingly referred to the band's musical style as "nu-reggae", in reference to the term nu metal. Although Skindred has sometimes been compared to Bad Brains, Webbe states that "To someone who doesn't know anything about reggae music, of course we're going to sound like Bad Brains. It's like someone who doesn't know anything about opera might say that Pavarotti sounds just like Mario Lanza. But when your ears are trained and you know what you're looking for, you're going to say, 'Shit no, Mario Lanza don't sound nothing like Pavarotti.The band evolved from the Derry Hitmakers and The Undertones. It was formed by guitarist John O'Neill and second guitarist Raymond Gorman who DJ'd together at the Derry 'Left Bank' club. The band was completed by Damian O'Neill (bassist from 1985-1988 then guitarist from 1988-1994) along with drummer Ciaran McLaughlin and bassists John Marchini (1988-1991) and Brendan Kelly (1991-1994). From 1985, the band released a number of singles and albums. Even though they charted seven singles in the UK Singles Chart, they never improved on their first chart hit, "Big Decision", in 1987 which reached number 43. They did, however, reach the Top 40 of the UK Albums Chart with the album, Babble, which was also voted one of the albums of the year by Rolling Stone magazine critics. They also reached number 1 in the UK Indie Chart with their albums Manic Pop Thrill and Fireproof.
The band's sound evolved over the years from John Peel approved heavy indie rock on Manic Pop Thrill and Babble, to melodic indie pop rock after John O'Neill's departure on the albums Chemicrazy and Fireproof, via dance and sample experimentation on End Of The Millennium Psychosis Blues. Many of their fans believe that this diversity alienated people in the contemporary scene and so, That Petrol Emotion are considered very much before their time, and pioneers for Britpop and crossover bands such as The Stone Roses, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Blur and Radiohead.
That Petrol Emotion were also renowned for a devastating live performance of tight musicianship and intense playing. They were described by Rolling Stone magazine as "The Clash crossed with Creedence", but their influences range from The Beatles to Television to Wire to Captain Beefheart to Can. The New York Times described them in 1987 as "a youthful Rolling Stones" and a "revved-up Television", and Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins wanted to produce them. However, despite the great critical acclaim and fan base they garnered, That Petrol Emotion never achieved the commercial success that was expected and they disbanded in 1994.
John O'Neill went on to form the band Rare, while The Undertones reformed in the 2000s for an album, without Feargal Sharkey, on Sanctuary Records. McLaughlin and Gorman still sporadically perform new, original material acoustically. A document of That Petrol Emotion's farewell gigs in London and Dublin was released in 2000 as Final Flame: Fire, Detonation and Sublime Chaos.
On 26 March 2008, Mack announced that the band were reforming to play reunion concerts in the summer. In August 2008 they appeared in London's The Boston Arms and Dundalk's Spirit Store, then went on to play at the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Ireland.
In March 2009 That Petrol Emotion played at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. In the same month their official site confirmed that That Petrol Emotion would be playing the Hop Farm festival in Kent, England in July 2009. Shortly afterwards a UK tour also in July 2009 was announced along with stints at Oxegen Festival in Ireland and T In The Park in Scotland.