Knights of Malta

"Knights of Malta" is the third single by The Smashing Pumpkins from their 2018 studio album, Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. The song differed from other Shiny Vol. 1 and much of previous Smashing Pumpkins material in that it featured a gospel-infused choir along with catchy pop sensibilities. Both Q magazine and AllMusic listed "Knights of Malta" as one of the standout tracks on the album.

Although released to digital stores on November 9, 2018, the song was first shared secretly on November 7, 2018. On the band's Instagram account, two photos were posted containing a lyric from the song. When the Instagram "Slumber" filter was applied to the photos, a hidden message was revealed. The first read "www.knightsof" and the second read "malta.live". Combined, it formed the URL of a site where the song could be heard via an embedded private YouTube video.

Song title
The song title likely is a reference the actual "Knights of Malta" – a modern Catholic lay religious order. The Knights Templar, affiliated with Freemasonry, contains several degrees of Order, one of which is Knights of Malta. This order puts emphasis on morality, and is based on the teachings of the Order of St. John and the battles they experienced in the Medieval times.

Additional personnel

 * The Section Quartet – strings