Weekend Martyr drops new EP
Weekend Martyr: A Raw Journey Through Psychedelia, Punk, and Dark Rock
by Jack Rush
Weekend Martyr is a project founded in 2019 by Riccardo Prianti and Elia Lazzerini. The group recorded their debut album, Weekend Martyr, at Orfan Records with Niccolò Mazzantini (Appaloosa) and released it through Aloch Dischi. The album features tracks that blend psychedelic atmospheres with a punk attitude.
Following the release of their album Gastrin and during the subsequent tour, new songs began to take shape. Five of these tracks form the basis of their just released new EP “YOUNG ELVIS LOVER KNOWN FOR BEING OUT OF CONTROL”. Recorded live and raw at the band's rehearsal space (Jeebo Recording) and mixed on an analog console, the EP aims to capture the unfiltered spirit of the band. It's a self-produced work that serves as a snapshot of a particular moment in their journey.
The EP showcases a lively garage rock energy with rock 'n' roll influences — including a nod to Elvis in the title of the opening track — and closes with darker, more desolate songs that lean into a bleak, blues-infused aesthetic. Built from lo-fi recordings and home experiments, the EP embraces a broad sound, spanning from raucous garage rock to off-kilter folk, all wrapped in a glam aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the dark nature of the lyrics.
In 2021, Weekend Martyr released their second album, Wires, another self-production recorded at Yeti Studio and once again released through Aloch Dischi. With a greater use of synths, Wires introduced a more layered sound: '70s organs and distorted pianos drag their garage rock roots into more acid, psychedelic territories, creating what has become the band’s signature sound.
In 2023, they returned with Gastrin, recorded, produced, and mixed by Marco Fasolo (Jennifer Gentle, I Hate My Village) at Big Tree Studio and mastered by Riccardo Zamboni. Released through Gigia Booking and Cruel Records, Gastrin marks a radical artistic shift — a darker, more visceral album that moves toward minimalistic and post-punk atmospheres. It captures the essence of the project, offering a sound that travels from '70s influences to '90s alternative rock.
The Gastrin album's eight tracks move through various moods, from aggressive, direct energy to introspective, minimalist explorations, often driven by hypnotic, mantra-like riffs that hint at pure psychedelia. Ahead of the album's official release in January 2024, the first single "Lighter" was released in October 2023, accompanied by a video directed by Giacomo Laser and Giulia Del Piero. The video draws inspiration from the iconic More Than Words by Extreme, using a lighter as a symbolic key to discovery — a light that reveals the shadows of Plato’s cave. However, unlike the playful tone of the original, the lighter in Weekend Martyr's version exposes the grotesque deceptions hidden behind appearances, posing existential questions about the new and the old, and the unseen forces that guide us.
In December 2023, the band released their second single, Scammed, featuring cover art by Luca Tanzini (Agenzia di Viaggi Interplanetaria). This track represents the album's ironic peak, describing the pervasive feeling of being "ripped off" when living in a provincial town. Although the lyrics initially hint at the possibility of revolution, the repeated refrain "I’m so dumb" — supported by Beach Boys-style choruses — highlights a crushing sense of disillusionment and ridicule.
Currently, Weekend Martyr perform as a power trio: Riccardo Prianti on guitar and vocals, Elia Lazzerini on drums, and Matteo Scateni on bass. Their live performances are where they truly shine, offering a stripped-down yet powerful show that fully brings their sound to life.
Over the years, Weekend Martyr have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a number of prominent acts from the Italian and international underground scenes, including Indianizer, Gianni Giublena Rosacroce, Jennifer Gentle, Dead Horses, Appaloosa, Big Mountain County, Monster Watch, Bad Plug, and Leatherette.
Have a listen and connect with Weekend Martyr:
