Chinese Democracy a "toe-tapper". Early Guns N' Roses guitarist Tracii Guns said he thought it was "over-indulgent, sterile and not that exciting". "Chinese Democracy"'s protracted recording process attracted extensive media coverage. According to "Spin", a cottage industry grew around covering its development; "the only way the record could have lived up to its legend would have been to never come out at all". Five years after its release, "Grantland" journalist Steven Hyden wrote: "For years, it was widely assumed "Chinese Democracy" would never come out; in retrospect, the delay is all anybody cares about ... As music, "Chinese Democracy" is merely the
Diecast (band) label Century Media. In addition the band shopped a 4 song demo to other labels with hopes to release a new album which never materialized. In addition to shopping new labels in late 2008, bassist Eddie Barton joined the band as a full-time replacement for Brad Horion. In August 2012, the band began recording its long-awaited fifth studio album. In December 2013, it was announced that recording of the album was on hold due to financial issues. In February 2014, it was announced that recording of the album would continue, and that it would be released in the spring or