"Q2K" is an album by the American progressive metal band Queensrÿche, released in September 1999 via Atlantic Records. It marks a shift towards a more simplified, straightforward musical style for the band and was not as commercially successful as its predecessors. The album was the first featuring guitarist and keyboardist Kelly Gray, the band’s de facto producer and engineer, who replaced the group's original guitarist Chris DeGarmo.
"Q2K" includes the single "Breakdown," which topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. The band tried to recapture their earlier sound by drawing elements from their hit albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Empire," but with a modern twist. Despite the shift musically, "Q2K" wasn't a grand commercial success but the band's fans praised the album for its melodious hooks and hard-rock orientation.
The album was re-released in 2006 and included four bonus tracks. "Until There Was You" was a track that had been left off the original release, while "Howl," "Sacred Ground," and "Breakdown" (radio edit) were newly recorded tracks. In 2013, it was reissued once again with a remastered sound and these four bonus tracks.
Overall, "Q2K" represents a turning point in Queensrÿche's career, marking a move towards a more contemporary sound, while still maintaining their distinctive musical identity.
