After 14 years and £10 million, Axl Rose has finally unveiled the new Guns N’ Roses album on My Space.

Due for release on Monday, after a decade of warring with a constantly changing line-up of band members, record company executives and producers, the famously fiery frontman uploaded Chinese Democracy to YouTube in its entirety today.

But the epic effort put into producing the 14-track album may yet prove fruitless after reviewers delivered mixed reactions this morning.

The Times’ chief music critic Pete Paphides awarded Chinese Democracy three stars our of five, concluding that the album couldn’t match any of those made by the band’s famous original Eighties line-up, who all left the group after clashing with Rose.

“The classic Guns N’ Roses line-up which gave us Paradise City and Sweet Child O’Mine – would have taken a lot less to deliver something better.”

But Paphides said Rose’s talent still shone through. “By God, at its best, Chinese Democracy sure has its moments.”

Focus, however, is unlikely to be solely on the high-octane tunes. The long-awaited album, that has missed a succession of scheduled release dates, has sparked such interest and ridicule that this morning’s surprise unveiling and the official release next week have taken on more than musical meaning.

Come Monday, American soft drink company Dr. Pepper must give every American a free can of its carbonated drink after pledging to do so if the Guns N’ Roses album saw the light of day during 2008.

Meanwhile, original Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler, estranged from the band since 1990, appears to have seen the Chinese Democracy release as a way back into the limelight and out of trouble with the law. Having long battled with substance abuse he appeared in court this week on a charge of heroin possession.

His lawyer told the court that Adler would get sober and embark on a future with the band.

"When he gets sober they'll accept him into the band and then they'll do a comeback album and a world tour, that's the dream of Steven Adler" .

Since Adler's claim, Rose has mimicked his behaviour for the past 14 years and remained silent.

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