Scottish quintet Mogwai practically wrote the textbook on slow-build, loud-soft-loud-soft, epic instrumental post-rockback in the mid-90′s. Now, on their new track “Wizard Motor,” they aren’t afraid to go off script.

Keeping it shockingly brief — under 5 minutes — the sinister minor-key track stays true to the band’s namesake; ‘Mogwai’ means “evil spirit” in Cantonese, and the band’s dark, brooding movements are ever-present on “Wizard Motor.” It begins with a dirge-like organ, then deftly grafts pristine sheets of switching electric guitars, gritty, trashed bass lines, cavernous toms and gated electronic snare samples before making an ominous full-stop exit, like a phantom disappearing into thin air. It’s a mature, retrained piece that leaves you wanting more, something that can’t often be said about common fare in the genre these days. Stream it below.

“Wizard Motor” appears on Mogwai’s Les Revenants EP, out February 25th on Rock Action/Sub Pop.

STREAM: Mogwai – “Wizard Motor”

For a band whose name doubles as a lighthearted chat acronym, LULS is pretty heavy. You would be hard pressed to find anything online by the mysterious outfit, which features the Big Pink’s Adam Prendergast, aside from “Young.” The track alone, however, is enough to prove that the London trio is worth keeping an eye on. “Young” is a fine example in the art of crescendo; starting off with some haunting percussion and two-part vocals, the track slowly swells up until it explodes into a brooding cataclysm of industrial post-rock.

“Young” will be the AA-side to LULS’ upcoming “Swing Low” single. Keep an eye on their spot for a release date.

MP3: LULS – “Young”

Athens, Georgia post-rockers Maserati are returning this fall with Maserati VII, due out on October 2 via Temporary Residence Ltd. The album will be the band’s first with drummer Mike Albanese and features contributions from Zombi‘s Steve Moore. Their newest track “The Eliminator” kicks off with a blast of krautrock synth, echoing guitar, and propulsive drums, creating a sense of urgency that impressively manages to sustain itself for the entirety of the song. The result is a soundscape fit for a cinematic car chase.

STREAM: Maserati – “The Eliminator”

Russian Circles are one of the few dark instrumental bands that have risen out of obscurity into the indie limelight. The recent release of Empros, their proper Sargent House debut, is only going to bring them more notoriety. Despite being only six tracks long, the songs on this album clock in at an average length of six to seven minutes and each packs quite the punch. “Mladek” is one of my favorites cuts off Empros, showcasing the balance between bright hopeful melodies and ominous metal riffs that Russian Circles seems to strike so well. It’s a long but good one — check it out below. Empros is out now on Sargent House.

MP3: Russian Circles – “Mladek”

This Thursday night, grab something nice to wear and prepare to get champagne and St. Germaine sprayed all over it as Que Sera returns to Napoleon for its midsummer edition. John Thornley of U.S. Royalty and Phillippe Chetrit of Fatback team up behind the decks to provide a soundtrack for a party of Gatsbyesque proportions. You can download “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)”, a recent Que Sera mix, below.

STREAM: “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)”

Sometimes post-rock can get a bit too drawn out for my taste. That’s when driving numbers like Maserati‘s “Pyramid of the Sun” come in. The track’s explosive guitar riff and pounding drums are perfect for when I’m fed up with the usual fare. The accompanying video comes to us from the folks over at everybody’s favorite messed-up TV network, Adult Swim, who have recently begun throwing their hats into the music ring — their latest is a video for Best Coast’s “Gone Again.” This visual piece fits the song just right. Gives Doc Brown’s flux capacitor a run for its money.

MP3: Maserati – “Pyramid Of The Sun”