Journeymen survivors in the norteño trenches, Los Terribles del Norte are a solid foursome who play in the no-nonsense trad norteño style. Their idols are, of course, Ramon Ayala and Los Tigres, whose influences appear plainly on such corridos as the jumpy "Dos Gallos." And while many backbenchers try to copy Ayala, Los Terribles inject a deeper soul and harder blues sense into these polkas, rancheras, and corridos. Lead singer Juan Acuna is the main engine here, especially on stage. He can inject a lot of emotion into his songs, all while playing his bass and dancing. --Ramiro Burr