A CONVERSATION WITH STEEL PULSE'S DAVID HINDS

Reggae is arguably the most political musical form on earth. Born of the descendents of slaves in dirt-poor Jamaica, reggae has always been about overcoming-both socially and spiritually — social injustice, racism and exploitation. Perhaps the most direct and overtly political of the bunch is Britain's Steel Pulse.

"We're singing about things like weapons of mass destruction," said English-born vocalist-guitarist David Hinds, whose parents emigrated from Jamaica. "I've never heard that in a blues song. We are taking everything to another level, pointing the finger. We're saying to hell with the parables; this is how it is."

The band recently released its first record in seven years, African Holocaust (Ras/Sanctuary), a seething indictment of war, poverty, environmental destruction, racism and genocide set to typically catchy, bass-heavy reggae grooves.

The CD's packaging — a collage of disturbing images — is a visual mirror of its lyrics. Nearly every page of the booklet features a gruesome historical photo of a lynching, with crowds of self-important whites standing around the dangling corpses. The cover features photos of famous black political leaders, both living and dead, with their eyes blacked out. Also included are copies of actual FBI documents that discuss infiltration of militant black groups.

Steel Pulse's message of overcoming ongoing exploitation is particularly apropos given the current world strife, but Hinds said it's merely coincidence that the release of African Holocaust and the band's tour coincides with the final weeks of the American election. "It was coincidence. However, it was in our favor because what we're saying lyrically in songs like "No More Weapons" and "Tyrant" — people can relate to the subject matter."

In "No More Weapons" the finger is pointed squarely at the Bush Administration, which uses weapons of mass destruction as a justification for war, yet at the same time pursues it's own WMD programs. "These ego trips, by heads of state, who giveth not a care/For all your children and all my children," sings Hinds in his distinctly Marleyesque voice. "If dem a tyrant/Kick dem out," he wails in "Tyrant."

Like his hero Bob Marley, who with each record promised "10 tracks of education," Hinds' purpose is to uplift and educate, acknowledging the world's troubles and forming a positive social and spiritual response. "It isn't easy staying positive," said Hinds. "A lot of people get onto the bandwagon, then amnesia kicks in, and they wander off. Awareness has to be rekindled all the time....

"The greatest words I can hear is when someone says, 'I'm not into reggae music but I like you guys.' It's like a symphony to my ears. I see a tremendous response to the new songs. Anyone who attends a Steel Pulse concert in the first place doesn't expect to hear a love song; you know, 'Baby I love you, here's a tissue.' I think it's stepped up, people have heard the album, the consensus is that this album has come right on time-it's so current for what's happening today. Maybe it took a lot of terrorist activities, booming oil prices and all the things that are making man feel the pinch to make them tune in to what we're saying."

America, in fact, has always embraced Steel Pulse — much more so than its native England. Formed by Hinds in 1975, from the get go the band exposed, through song, the social and racial tensions of British society. The band, several of whose members embrace Rastafarian spiritual beliefs, began playing Birmingham clubs just as the U.K. punk scene was exploding. Finding solidarity with the punks — poor whites who were reacting to class inequities and economic doldrums in England — Steel Pulse began opening shows for punk groups like Generation X, the Stranglers and XTC. Despite a string of commercially successful records for major labels, the black community in Britain has never fully embraced the band. Its main fan base is in America, France and, increasingly, Africa.

Hinds and his eight-piece ensemble — including founding member Selwyn Brown on vocals and keyboards, Clifford "Moonie" Pusey on lead guitar, Alvin Ewen on bass, Sidney Mills on keyboards and Conrad Kelly on drums and percussion — are currently on tour.