Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

1974 saw the release of Queen’s second album Queen II, whereas the first album had seen the emergence of the band into the nations consciousness, Queen II saw the band experiment with the medium they would come to dominate over the next two decades.

From the album cover with its now iconic picture of the four band members faces staring out from a black background to its idea of a Side Black and Side White as opposed to sides one and two, this blurring of the idea of a rock band and the art of Progressive music became a distinct possibility as listeners were treated to the idea of an emotional (white side) theme running through the tracks and a darker, fantasy driven side that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Tolkien novel.