Steel Pulse stakes out the political beat.

Byline: Paul Denison The Register-Guard

Here's a safe bet. If President Bush is re-elected, he will not invite Steel Pulse to perform during his inauguration cere- monies.

That's not just because the duo played for Bill Clinton in 1993. It's because the British reggae group's first studio album in seven years, "African Holocaust," includes some tracks that might get under the president's skin.

The opening track, "Global Warning," sounds like "global warming" and sounds a cry for environmental activism.

"There Must Be a Way" points a finger at the "Illuminati" for deceiving people about what's really going on in the world.

"No More Weapons" refuses to "beat around the BUSH" about the disastrous consequences of wars caused by power-craving, ego-tripping heads of state who don't care about future generations.

"Tyrant" chides political leaders for stealing votes and suggests a remedy: "If Dem a Tyrant, kick dem out/ Halle- lujah, jump and shout."

Admittedly, these lyrics could apply to a lot of political leaders, black as well as white. And they could all benefit from listening to the new Steel Pulse album, because every track on it expresses cynicism, skepticism and anger about a long history of pale-skinned people exploiting and oppressing "we people who are darker than blue."

Founded by David Hinds and Selwyn Brown, Steel Pulse has preached social and political revolution through music - "Downtrodden masses get up off your asses" is the most direct way they proclaim it in the new album - for more than a quarter of a century.

"We're never gonna be the aristocracy's favorite band," Brown says.

But Steel Pulse has Rasta- farian roots, and the band's calls for revolutionary change are tempered and leavened by a broader vision.

In "Darker Than Blue" - a song that mentions Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia - the group urges those seeking restoration of black Africans' rights to, "Keep your eyes upon prize/ Jah Jah is the power and glory giving us a brand new story/ No mek tribal war destroys we/ Let's bring about some unity."

"Blazing Fire" - inspired by biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo in a Babylonian king's fiery furnace - has these lines: "In dis ya wicked and perilous time/ Persecutors fight against I/ Dem a try to take my life/ I survive all war and strife/ Blazing fire can't touch Rasta/ Blazing fire can't touch Rasta."

Such lyrics don't sound all that rousing on the printed page, but they have real power when Hinds sings them with the backing of one of the world's best reggae groups. Along with Hinds and Brown, the core of Steel Pulse also includes Alvin Ewin and Clifford "Moonie" Pusey.

Hinds is the writer and lead vocalist; he also plays rhythm guitar and percussion. Brown is the keyboardist and also sings backing vocals. Ewin plays bass, and Pusey is the lead guitarist.

Put a seven-piece band behind these four, as on "African Holocaust," and you get, for want of a better word, power reggae. Or, better yet, power-to-the-people reggae.

Paul Denison can be reached at 338-2323 or pdenison@ guardnet.com.

CONCERT PREVIEW

Steel Pulse

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: The Jungle, 23 W. Sixth Ave.

Tickets: $20 through the Jungle, 338-9000, or TicketsWest outlets

CAPTION(S):

Steel Pulse - featuring Selwyn Brown and David Hinds (right) - bring politically charged reggae to town Thursday.