Guns N' Roses back with a head-bang

Guns N' Roses' comeback album Chinese Democracy is finally ready for release, after a 17-year wait for fans.

The record, billed as "one of the most highly anticipated albums in rock history", marks the first album of new material from the band since 1991's simultaneous release of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.

Guns N' Roses took the rock scene by storm in the mid-1980s, packing out stadiums.

Appetite for Destruction was a huge worldwide success, shifting more than 28 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling albums yet.

Overall the band has sold more than 90 million records globally.

Fronted by Axl Rose, the group has gone through various line-up changes since they were formed.

They are known for head-banging anthems such as Sweet Child o' Mine, Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle.

"The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock n' roll," Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, Guns N' Roses' co-managers, said in a statement.

"And we're launching with a monumental campaign that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself.

"Guns N' Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."

Chinese Democracy is released globally on 23 November - and in the UK the following day, on CD and vinyl (accompanied by a free digital download of the tracks), and as a separate digital album.

The 14-track album includes the song If The World, which was included on the soundtrack to the film Body of Lies.

The title track and first single from the album, Chinese Democracy, had its first radio play yesterday, and the new music has generated much internet debate.

One comment on fan discussion website www.mygnrforum.com read: "I think it's a good song, but expectations are way too high."

Another fan said: "I don't really care if some 14-year-old girls don't like it, they can listen to Pink, Avril and Timberlake for all I care."