Spectral state densities of sizable metal clusters are evaluated directly by resorting to an efficient algorithm (FOM), set up and formerly utilized in other computational contexts. Investigation of SCC, FCC and BCC cluster geometries, described according to a tight-binding model able to take into account size- and surface-effects, leads to convincing evidence of the excellent prerogatives of the approach. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.