For those not in the know, Junkyard is an American hard rock band formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California, with members previously in Minor Threat, Big Boys, Decry and Dag Nasty.

Back in 1992, Junkyard was a well-oiled machine, their previous two releases performed well, they had multiple videos in rotation on MTV, and successful club and arena tours under their belt.

Looking to infuse more of their musical sensibilities into their third effort, they began writing and recording and in a short few months, they had compiled over 20 songs.

The new material reflected more of their alt/punk roots, which was not much of a directional change considering their strong punk pedigree.

The band drew comparisons with Guns N' Roses (which, like Junkyard, signed with Geffen Records) and in 2015, Junkyard released two brand-new songs 'Faded' b/w 'The River' on Unison Music Group.

In 2017, Junkyard released its first album since 1991, High Water and on November 22nd, 2019, Acetate Records released the band's 1992 studio album, Old Habits Die Hard.

Selling it as "the lost 1992 album," Junkyard (via Acetate) have opened the vault and blown the dust off a killer collection of recordings that still sound as fresh, as ballsy and as lyrically relevant today as they did some 18 years ago.

1. 'Introduction'
2. 'Pushed You Too Far'
3. 'Out Cold'
4. 'Tried & True'
5. 'Fall to Pieces'
6. 'Blue Sin'
7. 'Holdin' On'
8. 'Staredown'
9. 'I Come Crawling'
10. 'Hangin' Around'
11. 'Take Me Home'
12. 'One Foot In The Grave'

Kicking off with a throaty introduction (courtesy of local LA icon Donnie Popejoy), guitarist Brian Baker's opening riffs instantly take us on a pop-rock journey with the brilliant strut and swagger of 'Pushed You Too Far.'

They then back this up with the one-two bounce of 'Out Cold,' the soulful mid-tempo ballad 'Tried & True,' and then the frenetic 'Fall to Pieces.'

David Roach's vocals have always impressed me and incorporating as he does the vibes of Gary Moore, Vince Neil and Axel Rose, it ensures that all these rocking blues, and guitar-backed boogies are as golden as they could have ever hoped to be.

Next up, and at times channeling both the aforementioned Moore and even Elvis Presley, is the lo-fi blues of 'Blue Sin' and that's followed by the rocker 'Holdin' On,' the powerful 'Staredown,' and then the love angst of 'I Come Crawling.'

This quite brilliant "lost" album then rounds out with the contrified, melancholic Poisonesque ballad duet 'Hangin' Around,' the feverish 'Take Me Home,' and then comes to a close with the guitar fest jam of 'One Foot In The Grave.'

As for the major label's rush to jump on the next popular music trend quickly back in the day as this album was being readied, well, that unceremoniously led to Junkyard's demise.

"At this point, Nirvana's Nevermind album had been out a few months and we all kinda knew which way the wind was blowing," singer David Roach recalls. "We didn't really officially break up as a band, it was as simple as the party's over."

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