I don't know if you were talking about me but I certainly did not go in deciding that I will hate it no matter what. In fact, I was a pretty big GNR fan back in the day and I was actually kinda looking forward to this... but on first listen, it really sounds quite bad and not to mention, boring! It did get a bit better on second listen and there are a few bright spots here and there like a guitar solo or a pretty melody but overall I'm still quite underwhelmed. Maybe it's a grower? I don't know. But it does seem like Axl took some cues from the nu metal genre? and maybe that's what's putting me off. Not to mention, his voice is mostly awful throughout the album! I loved his voice on Appetite and even the Illusions but here it sounds strained and screechy.
I wasn't addressing anybody in particular Zoots, just an attitude about this album that has grown over the last decade. Whatever you feel is probably perfectly understandable. I wouldn't ever to claim to have been a 'huge' GNR fan, I was always certanly a fan but I prefered bands like Metallica, Pantera and Megadeth at the time. GNR was always the one 'hard rock' band that was cool with the metal heads.
Don't we all have to sort of agree that it was more or less unwritten that this thing would suck? The 'development hell' , the first song they officially released several years back (the soundtrack song) was pure horseshit and the leaks have been all over the place. Plus, the MTV appearance which was quite embarassing for Axl. I think most people were ready to pounce like wolves.
All I'm saying, after one listen, it's not a sacreligious record.
Maybe it's a sacreligious concept for some, GNR w/o Duff, Matt and Slash.
I didn't notice too much of a Nu Metal inspiration.
High-low, dropped C guitars, hip hop nonsense. Cookie monster vocals.
I loathe that shit, I hope I would have noticed.
I did hear some sampling and electronic bits, which worked a bit on some songs more than others. The one with the MLK sample, part of it worked for me and part of me thought it was ot of place. Eh, I dunno.
I am not giving the album a ringing endorsement, by any means, just surprised I didn't outright laugh at it.