AFRICAN Soul Rebels are a melting-pot of crunching heavy metal power chords, throat-shredding vocals and mind-melting electronic beats.

Their new single is a cover of The Clash's Rock El Casbah, which, dare one say it, sounds better than the original.

It's the contemporary sound of Africa which is bright and vibrant, and more dynamic and driven than most on offer north of the Med.

Band leader Rachid Taha, the man in black, has infused every underground sound of the past 50 years.

An Algerian who has lived in France since 1968, Taha is aware that being a Moslem, an Arab and French could prove a handicap when trying to convince British audiences that he knows how to rock.

His band's exhibitions of modern African art and showcases of its music run across Britain.

African Soul Rebels play the Colston Hall, Bristol, on Thursday, February 17. Dial 0117 922 3686 for tickets.