Will Toledo gets ambitious on “Gethsemane,” the lead single from the proggy thirteenth studio album from Car Seat Headrest, The Scholars.

“Gethsemane” is nothing if not ambitious. Car Seat Headrest’s first new music in 5 years has more ideas than a senior thesis and more twists than a season of All My Children. You may need an encyclopedia nearby to check references as you go, which range from Greek mythology to Christian theology to tell the story of a mythical university. Getting into “Gethsemane” in no way requires understanding its literary references, though. Anyone who can appreciate the intricate tapestry of a sprawling pop prog punk odyssey will be powerless to resist “Gethsemane”‘s propulsive prog thrust.

“Gethsemane” starts off subdued and just builds and builds, starting off nearly acapella before spiraling into streamlined indie pop which, in turns, transforms into a trancey Terry Riley organ line and Pink Floyd crystal guitars. This in turn breaks down into a punk rock raveup, as Toledo wails “I can do whatever the fuck I want, when I want to.”

If ever there were a catchline for The Scholars, that would be it. Who else is blending proggy virtuosity with such unpredictability? Anyone who digs the more recent conceptual works from The Mountain Goats is likely to get a lot of mileage out of The Scholars when it comes out on May 2 while still giving long-time Car Seat Headrest fans much to chew on.

“Gethsemane” is out now. The Scholars will be released on Matador Records.