Rock
Queen announce major reissue of landmark Queen II album, complete with previously unheard studio material
The Queen II Collector's Edition lands on March 27, with unreleased gems.
Queen are revisiting one of the most important records in their catalogue, announcing a major reissue of their 1974 album Queen II more than 50 years after it first helped propel them toward global fame. The project arrives as an expansive 5CD and 2LP Collector’s Edition, offering a fresh mix, unheard studio material and a deep dive into the band’s early creative world.
Often regarded by fans as the group’s heaviest and most ambitious early work, Queen II has been newly remixed and remastered under the guidance of guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
The updated sound was crafted by long‑time collaborators Justin Shirley‑Smith, Joshua J Macrae and Kris Fredriksson, who aimed to bring out the detail and complexity buried in the original tapes.
The new box set includes the 2026 stereo mix, rare outtakes, demos, live recordings and candid audio captured during the album’s creation. A 112‑page book rounds out the package, featuring unseen photos, handwritten notes, memorabilia and reflections from the band on how the record came together.
For Brian, the album marked a turning point.
He recalled: “Queen II was the moment we really broke away and made music on our own terms."
Roger agreed: “We were discovering our sound and experimenting with multitracking in ways nobody else was doing.”
The album’s reputation has only grown over the decades. Axl Rose has long championed it as his favourite Queen release, praising its ability to open listeners up to new musical ideas with each revisit.
The team behind the new mix say their goal wasn’t to reinvent the album but to reveal its depth. Shirley‑Smith describes the process as “uncovering what was already there,” while Macrae calls the original recordings “astonishingly ahead of their time.”
Both Brian and Roger highlight the sheer ambition behind tracks like March of the Black Queen and The Fairy Feller’s Masterstroke, pieces they now view as precursors to the grand, multi‑section style that would later define Bohemian Rhapsody.
Brian says the new clarity allows listeners to appreciate the “impossible complexity” of the arrangements, while Roger admits he still can’t believe how much work went into learning and recording them.
Looking back, the band see Queen II as the moment they were finally given the freedom to explore the studio as an instrument.
Brian reflected: “It was a giant leap.
“We could experiment, paint with sound and push ourselves further than before.”
The Queen II Collector’s Edition will be available from March 27. Pre-order now via Queen.lnk.to/QueenII2026Mix.
