So after 17 years, several of which were due to Axl Rose being batshit insane, Chinese Democracy will finally be released this coming week. Until then, though, it's getting streamed on the band's myspace.

Listening to the album now, and... well, let's be honest. Nothing short of Jesus on a CD would justify a 17 year wait. That said, it's actually pretty good. The title track is pretty badass, really, and Shackler's Revenge ain't bad, either. "Better" is apparently the leading single off the album, but I'm not sure why. It sounds rather like filler, excepting the guitar part which has some shining moments..

Oh yes, the guitars. I can't say I know much about Bumblefoot's style, but it definitely sounds like they left Buckethead's recorded parts intact. Riff fills and solos all over the place make me a happy person.

What doesn't, though, is a ballad on track four. On the upside, it sounds like a GnR ballad from way back when, not a "modern rock" ballad.

I must also complement the band on the very full sounds on the album. Many layers and overdubs to be found here, which explains SOME of the delay in the album production. It's almost as though they decided they wanted to be like Queen at times.

It's nice to know there are a plethora of ideas here, but unfortunately, they seem to jump between "rocker" and "ballad" a wee bit too much. Scorpions could write awesome ballads, but if history has shown much, it's that you can't rely on them solely to carry the album. FOUR ballads in a row is excessive, but that's what we get with tracks 4-7.

Overall, though, it's probably the best the band's done since Appetite For Destruction. The sound is overly extravagant and incredibly diverse, but after this kind of wait, you really couldn't expect anything else.

Also, for those who care, it's apparently the first of a trio of related albums, with the third slated for a 2012 release... and considering the number of tracks they've recorded, they should be able to at least stick to that.

Of course, though, this is just my opinion. Give it a listen, let's hear the MA consensus on this album!

From the few songs I've heard it's got way too much deviation from classic rock 'n' roll sound into industrial and nu-metal territory, the first single 'Shackler's Revenge' was the worst song I've heard from them. Buckethead's style, regardless of how quirky and super progressive doesn't even seem to fit that well even with the quirky industrial bits. It all sounds a bit cut 'n' paste... more so than it sounds rock 'n' roll. I don't want slushy sweep picking on a GNR album. Use Your Illusion however overblown still sounded like a rock band... this sounds like ginger prick disapears up his own arse and hires a bunch of eccentric and completely unrestrained guitarists... which it is. The production sounds pretty bad too.

This said I've never been a massive GNR fan so I can't say I care too much.

I might get the coupon if it's worth the hassle. I don't want to fill out some huge questionnaire or some bullshit like that.

Fuck, I don't even like Dr. Pepper that much, but it's free. Can't pass it up.

Also, Yankee is offensive to a southern man such as myself. The rest of the world should at least get their slurs correct.

They have been saying it will be released soon many times for the past seven years. Believe half of what you hear and all of what you see.

Over-anticipation is usually the worst thing one can do.

Use the split thread.

My last two posts were deleted.

Yes, I'm clearing up the thread. I split the thread before you posted them. Just make them again in the other one please.

The difference is that this time... it's actually coming out. If they're saying it comes out in three days, it's very likely already sitting in the Best Buy warehouses in the stores this very second. Unless, of course, they turned around and demanded that all those CDs get returned to the record company pronto, and lose all the money that went into manufacturing them...

It's kinda ok, songs like "Chinese Democracy", "Better", "There Was A Time" and "Shackler's Revenge" are really good, but the songs are very diverse, and songs like "Sorry" isn't good in anyway, could have expect something better after all these years.

The only thing I really care about the new album is whether and when Buckethead appears.

EDIT: In a bizarre twist of irony, it appears that the website promoting the album, www.chinesedemocracy, is banned in China.

haha, nice.

Anyways, by my guesses, Buckethead shows up on the first three tracks for sure. Either they left his recorded parts in the album, or Bumblefoot is one hell better of a guitarist than I thought. After those, though, I'm not too sure. I've heard he's got some more, but honestly, I don't remember too much of the ballads, and it didn't seem like he played on the later tracks.

I like how the Dr Pepper exec said "we never thought this day would come."

The first two songs I heard were the title track and "Shackler's Revenge", and they are horrible. I have yet to listen to the other songs, but I don't expect them to be much better.

Industrial + GNR = Fail.

So wait, we all get a free Dr. Pepper when it releases right? Score.

Gotta sign up for it on the drpepper website within 24 hours on the 23rd of November. They'll mail you a coupon.

I'm not really a fan of G'n'R (Apatite was decent) and less of a fan of Axel so I have to admit that I'm kind of hoping the album is a train wreck of epic proportions. It would be ironic and somewhat amusing if the outcome of Axels years of work turned out to be an unmitigated disaster.

Apparently Slash is not allowed to get a free Dr. Pepper. Axl is a knob.

That was Dr. Peppers choice and I have to admit it made me chuckle.

Also Buckethead does not get any either but Axl said he would share his Dr. Pepper with him so its ok.

Haha, damn. At least Buckethead gets to share one with Axl, whoop.
Listening to the myspace stream now and I gotta say it ain't bad, but of course it aint worth a 17 year wait. Its quite heavy for GnR...but the hooks don't seem to be that strong.

Edit: Heaviness only applies to first 3 tracks or so. Crap.

My thoughts exactly. Dr. Pepper is kinda like Cherry Coke as I remember, but I haven't drunk the stuff in months, so what do I know?

This is not Guns n' Roses.

Some of what I can hear is ok, but this is - in NO WAY a Gunners album. Some of this is bordering on mallcore bullshit. What happened to the kick-arse blues-laden metal band? Oh wait, they died long ago.

I'm hoping this turns out to be the worst album they ever did. The idea of Axl working for 17 years on this fabled album and then having it turn out to be the fuckup of a lifetime is so appealing.

Most of the blues influence is gone... Damnit.

This just sounds like crap. Id agree with Bucketheads parts being the only good thing but they dont fit. This doesnt sounds like what I would expect from Guns & Roses... not that I was expecting anything good.

What's sad is that there are millions of fans out there that will like it just because it's by Guns. I haven't heard such an atrocity, ever.

Wow, an album of shitty ballads with the occasional nu-metal song, what a great effort for 17 years.

I was pretty unimpressed with the album as well. I don't think that the incessant overdubs add anything at all because all the riffs are just so lackluster. Buckethead's soloing is, of course, awesome, but it doesn't seem to fit AT ALL with the rest of the music. Not only that, Axl uses every conceivable opportunity to annoy. I'd say this is a pretty mediocre album at best, all things considered. Definitely an epic fail considering that they've been working on it for, what, seventeen years? This only goes to show what an idiotic douchebag Axl Rose is, as far as I'm concerned.

Could you please tell me which songs/parts have Buckethead soloing?

I can't remember exactly since I only listened to the album once, but I remember hearing several solos in his distinctive style. I think I remember there being one on "Shackler's Revenge," along with several other songs. Sorry I can't be more helpful; I'll bet Ribos could point them out to you more precisely.

Oh yes, I've definitely picked out some of his solos but I would just like to make sure. Hehe, guess I'll have to wait for the album to be released.

I've always thought it tasted like a poor man's root beer. But hey, if G&R wants to release a shitty album to score me a Dr. Pepper, fine by me.

I kinda liked the title track. Nothing very good, but it's not horrible either. Can't say the same about the rest of the album though...Stupid industrial rock.

What a dumb album. No one should care anymore. Well, except for the Dr. Pepper...which is nothing like Cherry Coke or Root Beer.

I miss Vanilla Coke and Pepsi Blue.

Vanilla Coke is still around - Pepsi Blue, mercifully, is not. What a strange goddamn drink

I loved that stuff. Tasted nothing like Pepsi though.

I downloaded the torrent for it this morning and let me tell you...IT FUCKING ROCKS!!!!

Mind you, Guns N' Roses is my favourite band, and believe me when I say I am a skeptical fan-boy when I heard the release date, but already having half the album memorized through demos and bootlegs was only the beginning. The final mixes are awesome!!! Despite the lineup changes, it still has the classic GN'R sound, with a minor dose of industrial added to some tracks (Chinese Democracy, Shackler's Revenge), the ballads are typically amazing as they were in the GN'R heyday (Street of Dreams, This I Love) and even Better, which is a prototypical industrial power ballad.

Overall, I highly recommend it if you are a fan of Guns. Even if you aren't, its a great way to get to know the band.

8/10

I'm a hardcore GNR fan and can't wait to hear this, but I'm gonna stick it out and wait to listen to it until I have the CD in my hands, just to raise my hopes more. So far I haven't listened to one leaked demo, or even the recently released single. But really, all of my expectations will probably be shattered once the music starts .

I remember Sebastian Bach praising the song "Sorry", saying that it sounds like doom metal. Is that true?