First sign of the apocalypse, maybe? 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.
But of course, I am not a music expert, so other people should listen to it and tell me I'm wrong.
Chinese Democracy... IT'S FINALLY HERE. 
