Chinese veteran rocker and director Cui Jian poses during the 8th Rome Film Festival in Rome, Italy on November 13, 2013. Cui's film "Blue Bone" is to screen during the festival. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cui Jian, China's "Godfather of Rock," will release his new album on Dec 18, 10 years after his last release.

In a break from Cui's iconic style, the new album will stress melody and include no rap, the 54-year-old star said on Wednesday while announcing his joining of Sony Music.

It will be named Guang Dong, meaning "movement of light."

"I hope it can make the audience forget bondage and boisterousness," said Cui, who became a household name in China with his 1986 performance of Nothing to My Name, setting off a nationwide rock craze.