It's weird because so many people have come and gone over the 15(?) years this was in progress - just thinking of the guitarists, they had Paul Huge/Tobias, Robin Finck, Buckethead, Richard Fortus, Zakk Wylde for about 5 minutes, Ron Thal... probably others I've forgotten.
When they started this record Grunge was still going, Nu Metal has come and gone, there were stories that they were doing material with Industrial influences, Axl seemed to have a bit of a Hip Hop phase (unless I was hallucinating).... ironically the kind of sleazy hard rock the band originally did has made a bit of a comeback...
I wonder how much stuff they recorded and abandoned, or is it just a big awkward mishmash of different styles?