by Ed Rivadavia
Germany's Accuser was formed in the town of Kreuztal and followed in the wake of that country's first wave of successful speed metal bands (Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, etc.). Quickly progressing from the full-out thrash of their early efforts (1987's The Conviction and 1988's Experimental Errors) to a more technical style made popular in the Bay Area scene (1989's Who Dominates Who?, 1991's Double Talk, and 1992's Repent), the band proved itself technically gifted, but, with very rare exceptions, inspirationally challenged; coming across as something of a poor man's Coroner. By the time of 1994's Reflections album, and especially the following year's Taken by the Throat, Accuser had evolved toward a modern death metal sound akin to Pantera and Machine Head, and adopted a more rhythmic-based, pseudo-tribal approach reminiscent of Sepultura; again highly competent, but hardly original fare. Having finally exhausted their desire to emulate current trends, Accuser quietly faded from public view in the ensuing years.