New Guns 'n' Roses songs - a massive disappointment.

I've now listened to two new songs from Guns 'n' Roses which are slated to appear on their long awaited Chinese Democracy album. I have to say, it's not looking too good if these two songs are any indication of what to expect. Before I continue though, I just want to make it clear that I was NOT expecting any of the new material to sound like classic GnR, so my disappointment isn't based on being stuck in the 1990s. I heard both Shackler's Revenge and Chinese Democracy, I have to say that these two songs confirm for me that Axl and company shouldn't be recording or touring under the title, Guns n Roses.

The two songs are about as far away from a GnR sound as you can expect. While bands experiment and try new things, I just can't identify any of the GnR spirit in these two songs. Had they have both been referred to as Axl solo songs, I probably would have been more open to them. But, because they are under the banner of GnR, it's only reasonable to judge them as GnR songs, irrespective of the band lineup. So, in conclusion, no, I don't think these songs are worthy of the GnR name. So far, it's sounding like early Linkin Park without the rap influences. Both songs have an identical sound which consists of the production saturated with ProTools technolgy.

However, I will keep listening out and try the remainder of the album as there are still 12 tracks that I have not heard. The two tracks I have heard may very well be the weakest that the album has to offer...and personally, it wouldn't be a bad thing if that were the case. Many bands first singles for an album end up being the albums weakest, so i'm willing to give it another shot so i'll hang around (for now). But yes, for an album that's been in production for all this time with the massive budget, it just hasn't done it any favours i'm afraid.