| Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | Atum: Act One: November 15, 2022 Atum: Act Two: January 31, 2023 Atum: Act Three: May 5, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2022 | |||
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| Length | 138:09 | |||
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| Producer | Billy Corgan | |||
| The Smashing Pumpkins chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts | ||||
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Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts is the twelfth studio album by American rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. The album was released in three separate installments of 11 songs—Atum: Act One was released on November 15, 2022, Atum: Act Two was released on January 31, 2023, and Atum: Act Three was released on May 5, 2023. A physical box set consisting of all 33 songs, along with a group of 10 additional exclusive songs, under the title "Zodeon at Crystal Hall" was released in early May 2023.
Announced as a "sequel" album to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) and Machina/The Machines of God (2000), Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts is a concept album. The album continues the interconnected story from the aforementioned albums. The story follows Shiny, previously known as Zero (Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness) and Glass (Machina/The Machines of God), as he struggles with his exile and the ramifications of his legacy. The album also tells the story from the perspectives of several characters, including June, Osirah and an organisation known as The X+I. Produced by Billy Corgan the album has elements of alternative rock, electronic rock, progressive rock and synthpop.
Upon the album's release, critical reception was generally favourable. The majority of reviews praised the album's diversity in sound and how its staggered release helped listeners undertake the projects scale. Some critics were more critical with the album in comparison to the bands discography. The album had some commercial success worldwide, with the album reaching the top five in Australia and Scotland, and the top 20 in several European countries.
Three singles were issued from the album: "Beguiled", "Spellbinding" and "Empires". A podcast named Thirty-Three with William Patrick Corgan was released along side the acts of the album, detailing the concept along with specials guests and retrospectives of the band's back catalogue. During the album's release cycle the band embarked on a North American tour named "Spirits on Fire" and continued with a world tour called "The World is a Vampire". The album marked the band's final studio album to feature guitarist Jeff Schroeder, before his departure in October 2023.