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Q2K

by Queensrÿche

Released: September 14, 1999

Hard rock, alternative rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"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. "Q2K" is an album by the American progressive metal band Queensrÿche, released in September 1999 via Atlantic Records. The band tried to recapture their earlier sound by drawing elements from their hit albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Empire," but with a modern twist.

Inside the Recording

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.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album was re-released in 2006 and included…

The album was re-released in 2006 and included four bonus tracks.

In 2013, it was reissued once again with…

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…

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.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Queensrÿche - Q2K

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Then

Reception

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. It marks a shift towards a more simplified, straightforward musical style for the band and was not as commercially successful as its predecessors. "Q2K" includes the single "Breakdown," which topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"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.