To the avid Smashing Pumpkins fanatic, Billy Corgan could do no wrong.

From the very heights of the band's success to its lowest points, the rock demigod led his band through a tumultuous, yet awe-inspiring career, creating music to be heard echoing through the ages -- just as he planned. And just as Corgan crafted the Pumpkins, he signed the band's death certificate in December 2000, ending the 12-year span.

But the prolific frontman could not stray from music for long, and shortly thereafter he spawned a new band, Zwan. Touring and recording like a well-established group, the new band honed its sound and has now released its first studio effort.

The debut album, Mary Star of the Sea, would also seem as though it had fallen off the Pumpkins tour bus. With a grandiose title chock full of religious allusions, it's familiar territory -- but the sound strays a bit from Corgan Land.

Many of the stylistic changes may be attributed to the addition of contributing band members. Zwan comes together almost as an indie all-star group, as oxymoronic as that may sound. Brandishing axes with Corgan are David Pajo, formerly of Slint and Tortoise, and Matt Sweeny from Chavez. Paz Lenchantin from A Perfect Circle was a later addition at bass, and rounding out the group is familiar face Jimmy Chamberlin, the former Pumpkins drummer.

Much of the album comes across with a brash light-heartedness and upbeat tone. The album's first single, "Honestly," coalesces from a gradual flow to an all-out rock downpour, highlighted by Lenchantin's harmonies and the multi-layered guitars.

Mary enters with its triumphant "Lyric," perhaps the best song Corgan has composed in quite some time. Throwing open the doors, Zwan comes out guitars a-blazing at the speed of sound -- powerful yet strikingly sincere. Corgan greets listeners with the uncharacteristically positive line, "Here comes my faith to carry me on." Remember, this is also the same man who penned the line about God being empty, just like himself.

References to religion appear throughout the rest of the album, with tracks such as "Declarations of Faith" and the title track. The latter is a two-part epic which starts as the meandering "Jesus, I" and slowly morphs into its next phase, covering more than 14 minutes of enlightenment and dueling solos in the process.

Though known for his somewhat pretentious musical statements, Corgan and company have also produced some more straightforward tracks. "Baby Let's Rock!" and "Yeah!" feature a cheesy rock 'n' roll style and similarly-styled lyrics, which come just a bit out of character. Corgan definitely makes some distance between Zwan and his former troupe.

For a band's debut, this shows great promise -- but holding the standard to the combined weight of Zwan's contributors makes it slightly less spectacular. All in all, Mary Star of the Sea comes as a refreshing lesson in respectable guitar rock, and from past and present accomplishments, tenured rock professor Corgan shows he is just about the best person to teach it.