antiMusic.com: Junkyard - High Water Review

Junkyard - High Water

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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Fans of the late '80s Hollywood rock scene will remember Junkyard but they probably thought they had heard the last of the band long ago; until now the band hadn't released a new album for 26-years. After enjoying some successful reunion shows, the guys, led by singer and founding member David Roach, hit the studio with new material and came out with this impressive set. The pace is set to 'Motorhead' for opening track "Walk Away" where the band boogies along at hyperspeed as Roach demonstrates that his whisky-soaked voice is still in fine shape. Amusingly, a voice is heard saying "that's cool man" at the end of the song, and indeed it is. "Faded" rocks along to an AC/DC-like groove and has a good vocal hook too, as everything here does. The subject matter here is party hardy; drinking, lusting after women, etc., and Junkyard make it all sound fun even when things get a little out of hand, like on "W.F.L.W.F." which stands for "We (let's say 'fornicate') Like We Fight." And the band is clearly having a ball with the hillbilly rock of "Don't Give a Damn," the album's one deviation from hard rock, and title cut "Hell or High Water," seemingly influenced by Neil Young when he's in a Crazy Horse mood, is a clear album highlight. Eleven very solid tracks here in all and High Water will definitely stand up to repeat play, or as one of the song's suggests, "'Til the Wheels Fall Off." Get your copy here.

Junkyard - High Water
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