Brian May Declares Queen II the Band’s Forgotten Masterpiece — “Our Best Album Ever!”

For decades, Queen fans have debated which record stands as the band’s greatest achievement. Many point to A Night at the Opera with its operatic epic Bohemian Rhapsody, while others highlight News of the World or Sheer Heart Attack. But according to guitarist Brian May, the real masterpiece is one that’s often overlooked: Queen II.

Now 78, May is breathing new life into the band’s 1974 sophomore album through a meticulous remastering project, and he’s making it clear that Queen II deserves far more respect than it’s ever received. Taking to Instagram, May shared footage from the studio as he worked on Funny How Love Is, calling the record:

“Surely the best Queen album EVER!!!”

Unlocking Hidden Layers

May described the process of remixing as both thrilling and revealing. By peeling back decades of sound, he said, fans will finally hear the intricacies that were always there but often buried.

“Just having fun here, switching things in and out so we hear things we never really noticed before,” May explained. “This new stereo mix is quite adventurous—and the new clarity is astounding.”

The guitarist credited Queen’s current sound team—Justin, Kris, and Josh—for what he called their “meticulous and inspired work.” The upcoming release, he promised, will allow fans to experience the album as never before, with Dolby Atmos surround mixes set to magnify the music’s “multiple layers.”

“I will be in Heaven!!!” May exclaimed. “Because we’ll finally be able to do justice to all the multiple layers in these tracks—a mere 52 years later!!!”

A “Wall of Sound” Approach

One of the album’s most unique tracks, Funny How Love Is, carried some surprising studio tricks. May revealed that the band deliberately drew inspiration from Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, layering banks of acoustic guitars, castanets, and echo-heavy drums.

In a playful twist, Freddie Mercury’s vocal was even sped up slightly to make him sound younger—or, as May joked, “maybe it was so he would sound like Ronnie Spector!”

Originally guided by guest producer Robin Cable at Trident Studios, the track was designed to feel like “a wheel endlessly turning but always bringing new surprises,” May recalled.

A Record Ripe for Rediscovery

The project comes on the heels of Queen’s Queen I box set, released in 2024, which treated fans to restored tracks, demos, and rarities. While there’s no release date yet for Queen II’s remastered edition, May’s steady stream of teasers has sparked excitement, with longtime fans calling it the “holy grail” of Queen’s catalog.

The original Queen II is perhaps best remembered for its striking cover photo—later immortalized in the Bohemian Rhapsody music video—and for Seven Seas of Rhye, the band’s first major hit. That single reached No. 5 in the UK charts, marking Queen’s breakthrough moment.

But for May, the album as a whole represents something deeper: the band at their most fearless.

Queen at Their Most Ambitious

“Queen II is the one where we pushed every boundary,” May has said in past interviews. “It’s layered, experimental, and passionate. It’s us before the world told us what we could or couldn’t be.”

Indeed, the album’s dual “Side White” and “Side Black” concept, with songs ranging from fantasy-driven epics like Ogre Battle to the dramatic beauty of White Queen (As It Began), showcased Queen’s wide creative scope at a time when they were still underdogs in the rock world.

Rewriting the Legacy

As the remaster nears completion, May hopes fans and critics alike will revisit Queen II with fresh ears. What was once considered a cult favorite could soon take its rightful place among rock’s greatest albums.

“Cheers! Bri,” May signed off in his studio message—clearly excited that the world is about to rediscover what he believes is Queen’s truest masterpiece.