1. Around 2008… what led to the creation of I Am the Trireme?
I Am the Trireme was born from a need to build something immersive something that wasn’t just music, but a vessel. The “Trireme” itself is a warship of the ancient world precision, power, and purpose moving as one. That idea resonated with us. It wasn’t about individuals, it was about propulsion many forces aligned toward a singular direction.
2. The shift to IATT and a new sound why take that risk?
Evolution isn’t a risk it’s survival. The early roots were a foundation, but we outgrew it quickly. The black metal/progressive influences were always there and with the addition of Joe Cantamessa (Lead Guitarist) and Paul Cole (Drums) we were able to pull closer to the vision that we imagined. IATT became the distilled form of that transformation. The acronym stripped away excess and left something sharper, more intentional.
3. The new album vs Magnum Opus and Viatica what does it represent?
Etheric Realms of the Night is the convergence point.
Viatica was the seed.
Magnum Opus was expansion.
This new record is transcendence.
The writing process for Etheric Realm of the Night was more deliberate less about proving something, more about channeling something. All hands were on deck, any creative thought was on the table. We allowed the songs to breathe, to evolve naturally. As for gear, we work with tools that give us clarity and weight layered orchestration, analog/digital hybrid approaches. It’s less about brands, more about control over atmosphere.
4. Have you reached your musical peak? How would you describe the sound?
There is no peak only ascent. We don’t like to put limits to our creative process.
This album is a synthesis: melodic death as the spine, black metal as the shadow, progressive elements as the architecture. It’s cinematic, it’s aggressive, it’s immersive. Influence comes from everywhere Scandinavian extremity, progressive ambition, and beyond metal entirely. We don’t emulate we absorb and transform.
5. Working with Didier Malherbe and Valček how did that happen?
We wanted textures that felt ancient and otherworldly something beyond the traditional metal palette. Lead Guitarist Joe Cantamessa grew up listening to Prog rock bands from the 60’s/70’s and having Didier on ERotN was a salute to his father who introduced to such artist from that time. Violinist Ben Karas (Thank you scientist/Windfaerer) has performed on our previous two albums Magnum Opus and Nomenclature so the alliance was natural. Their contributions added a spectral, almost ritualistic layer to the album. It wasn’t just collaboration it was invocation. Every element serves the atmosphere.
6. Your lyrical themes occultism, history, medicine why these topics?
We’re drawn to what exists beneath the surface hidden systems, forgotten knowledge, altered states. Those themes are reflections of transformation, decay, rebirth. These topics are part of my questioning spirit. Sometimes the music comes first and demands a narrative. Other times, a concept manifests and shapes the sound. It’s a symbiotic process. IATT allows me to put ink to paper and words to a sonic assault where I can question the concepts that are fed to us.
7. Recording, mixing, mastering how did it come together?
We maintain a strong level of control over our sound. We’ve handled recording duties since 2013, ERotN was no different. A lot of the process is handled internally, but we’re not isolated we worked with long time friend and mixing/mastering engineer Marcos Cerutti (Nomenclature/Magnum Opus) to elevate the final result. The goal is always clarity without sacrificing intensity.
8. “Drift Away” and “Somniphobia” why those tracks for videos?
They represent two sides of the album’s psyche.
“Drift Away” is the descent.
“Somniphobia” is the confrontation.
We chose those tracks immediately demanded a visual counterpart. The process was collaborative, but always anchored in our vision: immersive, unsettling, and cinematic. Every song on the album has a video/chapter that collaborates into a full Film.
9. Your relationship with Black Lion Records how did it start?
It’s built on alignment. They understood the vision from the beginning (2018) and gave us the space to execute it without compromise. That kind of trust is rare, and it’s why the relationship has endured across multiple releases.
10. The cover art what does it represent?
The artwork channels that late 90s melodic death aesthetic but refracted through our lens. It represents passage between realms, between states of being. It’s not just an image, it’s an entry point into the album’s world.
11. The Philadelphia scene how has it evolved?
Philadelphia has always had an undercurrent of extremity it’s just become more refined, more diverse. There’s less concern with fitting into a mold and more focus on identity. The U.S. scene as a whole is expansive fragmented in a good way. There’s power in that chaos.
12. Live shows what can fans expect?
We’re already moving toward live execution. What people can expect is total immersion. Not just a setlist a ritual. Atmosphere, precision, and intensity from beginning to end. No wasted motion. Over the last few years we’ve poured everything into this Album and you can expect to see us pour that onto the stage live.
13. Your beginnings in music what pushed you into this path?
Music wasn’t a choice for IATT it was something that was always there, embedded early and impossible to ignore.
As a whole, we all came into music in childhood. Jay Briscoe started out playing trumpet in school bands, laying a foundation in structure and melody. Joe picked up guitar young, following in the footsteps of his father, a guitarist himself music was part of his bloodline. Alec was classically trained on piano before evolving into a self-taught guitarist, bridging discipline with exploration. Paul Cole was introduced to drums as a kid by his father, carrying on that same generational rhythm.
What pushed us into this path wasn’t a single moment it was a convergence of upbringing, influence, and an early connection to sound that kept evolving into something heavier, darker, and more intentional. Music became more than expression it became identity.
14. Essence of black metal? Recent listens?
Black metal, at its core, is atmosphere and conviction. It’s not just sound its intent. The albums that define it capture something primal and uncompromising.
We’re always absorbing new material right now the Germany has put out a good amount of quality albums from Der Weg Einer Freight, Groza, Firtan, Waldgeflüster I’d like to give those bands a nod.
15. Final words to the followers
Etheric Realms of the Night is more than an Album, it’s a Film, it’s an experience we’ve built for those willing to step into it.
May 8th approaches.
Prepare accordingly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antlers – Beneath. Below. Behold (2LP) Limited to 288 copies. 38,99 €
