When most people think of Queen’s greatest album, titles like A Night at the Opera or News of the World often come to mind. But according to guitarist Brian May, the band’s real gem lies elsewhere: Queen II. In a recent discussion, May revealed why the 1974 album holds a special place in his heart—and why it’s still full of surprises for fans even today.
“It was pure,” May explained. “We were throwing everything we had into it. There were no limits—just ideas, layers, and ambition.” Unlike the more polished albums that came later, Queen II was experimental to its core. From the dark, brooding side one to the dramatic, almost operatic second side, the record is a journey through sound that showcases Queen at their most daring.
May also spilled some fascinating secrets about the recording process. The band pushed studio technology to its absolute limit, stacking vocals and guitars in ways no one else was doing at the time. “There are moments where we had 20, 30 guitar tracks layered on top of each other,” he said. “It created this massive wall of sound. Even now, when I listen, I think, ‘How did we do that?’”
One of the album’s standout tracks, “The March of the Black Queen,” remains a cult favorite among die-hard fans. May calls it “a prelude to what we’d later do on Bohemian Rhapsody.” Its shifting tempos, complex harmonies, and dramatic structure were groundbreaking for the era—and laid the groundwork for Queen’s signature sound.
Nearly five decades later, Queen II is still revealing hidden gems to those willing to dive deep. “There are details in there most people haven’t noticed,” May said with a grin. “Little guitar lines, layered vocals—you could listen a hundred times and still find something new.”
For Brian May, the album isn’t just a piece of Queen history—it’s the purest expression of who they were at the time: bold, hungry, and fearless. “That record is us saying, ‘We can do anything,’” he added. And for many fans, that’s exactly why Queen II will always be a masterpiece.