Although this is not a terribly new release, I have no problem telling you folk about the Accused. They call their sound splatter rock. I say it sounds like a healthy mix of hard-core and death metal, with enunciation intact.

The new tracks are great, especially "No Hope for Relief/Close Insight." Their rendition of "Saturday Night Special" went over very well with my listeners also. Aw, hell, play the whole damn thing, even the two tracks from their last album, Grinning Like an Undertaker.

The Accused are perhaps the heaviest band in the Seattle scene, and that's saying something. In this case, that's saying something very good.

The fact these guys are from St. Louis made it even more difficult for their work to make a case with me. Not that I have a bias against Midwestern bands or anything like that; I just couldn't believe something cool could come out of St. Louis (sorry, Tim).

Anacrusis certainly changed that. This, their latest, is so far ahead of Reason, the change is incredible. At first listen, their cover of New Model Army's "I Love the World" caught my ear. And then tracks like "Idle Hours," "Explained Away" and "Far Too Long" began to rise out of the woodwork.

Not thrash, not exactly progressive, Anacrusis sounds like a band that will be around to make sure the future has a conscience (not to mention great music).

The second release on Faye features one of Columbia's finest bands. This three-piece knows its way around a psychedelic pathway or two. We down at KCOU actually prefer the B-side, a nice little song called "Camel Lips."

If you're into the Floyd boys, especially their sixties stuff, this will fit right in. Spacey, slightly grungy at times. A real treat for the ears. And I'm not saying that just 'cause it's a local thing.

Some of you may have heard of a rockabilly band on Norton called the Untamed Youth. Well, they originated right here in Columbia, and one of their ex-members joined forces with members of an local ex-band called 2.2 Children to create Ditch Witch. This single is also the first on Columbia's own Faye Records (You'll have to ask about the story behind the name. It's pretty cool).

Anyway, these boys know how to rock, albeit in a laid-back, midwestern kind-of style. But this single has been riding high at KCOU and even well-received on my metal show.

Yet another Seattle band with a recent release. Many programers have taken notice of this album, yet I must admit I gave it rather short shrift when I cruised through format at KCOU.

Listening to the album again, I have found many more songs that I like past their way-cool cover of "I Stole Your Love." Stuff like "Hypochondriac" and "Hellfire Club" really rocked my world.

If you missed this album the first time - find it. If you're playing it - keep it up. I wish I could.

Ex-Nuge drummer (not to mention mega-producer) Tom Werman is listed as "Production Consultant" on this puppy. The sound is commercial, but since most of you play the Crue, Tesla or Queensryche (and why not?) give this a listen. It's certainly as interesting as those.

The real attraction here for me was the cool vocal style. There is a nice gruffness, not anywhere near grindcore or death metal, but nowhere near the producer-pumped sound lots of majors are cranking out these days. Dig it.