IATT, formerly I Am The Trireme (a maritime vessel utilized by the ancient Mediterranean civilizations), has returned with their third full-length record, "Etheric Realms of the Night." IATT is a band that, despite being signed to Black Lion Records, defies labels. If I were to assign a genre to their music, it'd be something around the lines of progressive-melodic-blackened-death metal, but that's bullshit, so we're just going to call them prog. The band does have strong connections in black metal, mainly through guitarist Joe's affiliation with Primitive Fuck (lovely) and Remnants of Winter, two defunct black metal projects. "Etheric Realms of the Night" is a release garnering quick anticipation, so without further ado, it's time to see just how etheric these night realms really are.

In the promo package, we see that the men of IATT, clad in black and posing near taxidermy in a presumably abandoned building, look exactly like their music: dark, yet intellectual. From the opening Opeth-esque acoustics in "Drift Away" to the manic saxophone riffing in "Walk Amongst," IATT shows that progressive black metal can be both inventively exciting and regularly brutal. "Etheric Realms of the Night" is a record that constantly contests technical boundaries, but still retains the basics of its genre(s). Jay's vocals, while harsh, are easy to listen to. Every burst of screamage carries much power and emotion. Interestingly, Jay's singing is where the album gets most of its black metal tinge. Sure, Paul blast beats like there's no friggin' tomorrow, but he's not limited to just black metal standards. He, just like the rest of the band, jams away in dynamic progressive metal fashion, covering jazzy piano/bass duets, djent-ish bursts of mechanical power, and segments where the concept of a time signature is discarded completely.

On "Etheric Realms of the Night," the band is assisted by many session musicians, each bringing their own spark to the album. The most prominent figures are Didier and his flute, and the uncredited pianist. Didier, from the opening track to the ambient closer, is always present, adding a delicate touch. His presence is comparable to Ian Anderson's on the latest Opeth release, except not as legendary, and not nearly as minuscule. The pianist is also a frequently-heard contributor, and while their contributions are a bit questionable at times, it's a fair addition. These helpers assist IATT in their efforts to make this record unique and fresh.

"Etheric Realms of the Night" is a lovely album. After reading this, did you think to yourself: "I'd watch a movie about this?" On the off chance that you did, on their official YouTube channel, IATT seems to be making a movie... go check it out!