Written by: David Williams
90s alternative rock legends The Smashing Pumpkins have returned with “Beguiled,” the first single off their upcoming 11th studio album ATUM (pronounced Autumn). The song is armed with heavy guitar riffs similar to metal bands Judas Priest or Black Sabbath. It sonically creates a complete turnaround from their last effort, the 80s synth pop-inspired CYR. In trademark Billy Corgan fashion, he delivers ominously cryptic lyrics open for wild interpretation “So swallow hard the serpents/Of many tags and faces hid in masks.”
ATUM is a 33-song rock opera and is a direct sequel to 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and 2000s Machina/Machine of God. The album will consist of three acts coming 11 weeks apart, with Act 1 arriving on November 15th, Act 2 coming on January 31st, and Act 3 will debut on April 21st. A box set including all three acts with 10 additional bonus tracks will also be released on April 21st.
“Beguiled” is available for streaming on all music platforms now.