Epic

Epic is the second album by seminal Chinese metal band Tang Dynasty, released on December 20, 1998, on Jingwen Records. It is the band's only album to feature founding guitarist Kaiser Kuo, a Chinese-American responsible for shaping the band's early direction. The album's release followed an extended period of turmoil within the band. Background Formed in 1989, Tang Dynasty rose to international fame with their 1992 self-titled debut album, released on Taiwanese record label Magic Stone Records. Considered to be the "[first real embodiment]...[of] what many Chinese young people imagined a 'real' rock band should be", Tang Dynasty sold an upwards of 900,000 official copies worldwide. The band was slated for a follow-up release in 1995. By then, however, frontman Ding Wu and bassist Zhang Ju had developed a serious heroin addiction, which hampered productivity. On May 11, 1995, Zhang was killed in a motorcycle accident. Tang Dynasty quickly recruited ex-Breathing bassist Gu Zhong as a temporary member in July to fulfill several live appearances, but halted all other activities as the surviving members were too affected by Zhang's death to continue writing and rehearsing. The group later split with Magic Stone Records, claiming the label had not supported them through hard times. Following Zhang's death, Ding reached out to founding guitarist Kaiser Kuo, inviting him to rejoin Tang Dynasty. Kuo, who was attending graduate school at the time, returned to China in June 1996. The surviving members of Tang Dynasty had been working on a tribute album entitled Goodbye Zhang Ju. Reunited with his former bandmates, Kuo contributed the song "Your Vision" to the project. Goodbye Zhang Ju was released in July 1997. Although Kuo initially did not want to rejoin the group, it became clear that Tang Dynasty would not be able to go on without his intervention. In August 1996, lead guitarist Liu Yijun quit the band over musical differences. Kuo stepped in the following month, Gu Zhong was made a permanent member, and Ding Wu finally kicked his addiction. Tang Dynasty played their comeback show at the Keep in Touch Bar in Beijing on July 12, 1997. They were managed by Hong Kong industry veteran Dickson Dee for a short time before signing to Beijing-based label Jingwen Records in 1998. Kuo described 1997 and 1998 as "some of the happiest years of my life".