Death by Metal interview with IATT – Alec Pezzano (Guitar / Orchestral Arrangements / Creative
Director)
1.) To kick things off, tell our audience a bit about the origin story of the band?
IATT was formed in 2008 by myself (Alec Pezzano) and Jay Briscoe our frontman,
bassist and vocalist. From the beginning, we shared a passion for creating
something powerful, polished, and meaningful. Over the last eighteen years, we’ve
evolved tremendously as musicians and artists, but that original drive remains the
same. One thing we’re especially proud of is that the band has maintained the
same core lineup for over a decade, which has allowed us to develop a unique
chemistry and creative trust that defines who we are.
2.) Who took the lead on picking the songs for Etheric Realms of the Night
album? and what was the spark that brought that idea to life?
Everything we do is highly collaborative. That’s one of the things that makes IATT
special—the chemistry we’ve developed over years of creating together. At some
point, we shifted our mindset and started thinking of ourselves as storytellers
rather than simply songwriters. That approach really began taking shape around
our St. Vitus EP and has continued to evolve with every release.
With Etheric Realms of the Night, we were fascinated by themes of sleep, dreams,
astral projection, and the blurred boundary between the waking world and the
subconscious. Once the concept clicked, the creative process took on a life of its
own. The story began revealing itself naturally through the music, and each song
became another chapter in that journey.
3.) If you had to describe the sound of your band to someone who hasn’t heard
you yet, what would you say?
That’s always a difficult question because we’re not actively trying to sound like
anyone else. We get a wide range of comparisons—some make sense, while others
completely surprise us.
At our core, we’re rooted in progressive black / death metal, but we’ve always
been passionate about pushing boundaries and challenging genre limitations. Our
music incorporates elements of jazz, folk, classical music, Latin influences,
orchestral arrangements, and cinematic atmosphere. We do our best work when
we’re not worrying about fitting into a particular mold and instead allow the music
to go wherever the story needs it to go.
4.) How has the songwriting evolved over the years with the band? What does
that process look like for you lately?
A lot of it comes down to the chemistry we’ve built together over the years.
Usually someone brings a riff, melody, concept, or idea to the table, and then
every member puts their fingerprints on it. No song belongs to just one person by
the time it’s finished.
Over the years, we’ve become more confident in trusting each other and allowing
the music to evolve naturally. The collaborative spirit within IATT is what gives the
band its identity. Everyone contributes, and the final result is always greater than
the sum of its parts.
5.) What are some of the recurring themes or messages you find yourself
exploring in your lyrics?
Many of our lyrics are rooted in strong visual imagery, but there’s usually a deeper
layer beneath the surface. Themes of enlightenment, overcoming adversity,
confronting the human condition, transcending limitations, and pursuing personal
transformation tend to appear throughout our work.
The best lyrics tell a story while still leaving room for interpretation. We want
listeners to connect with the emotions and ideas were exploring and see
themselves or find their own meaning within them.
6.) The cover art for “Etheric Realms of the Night” is striking, who was the
creative mind behind that vision?
I handle all of IATT’s visual branding and creative direction, including album
artwork, merchandise design, and most recently co-directing and editing the full-
length Etheric Realms of the Night film. Visual storytelling has always been a huge
part of who I am.
I was studying film production at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia when I
first met Jay and formed the band. Outside of IATT, I’ve spent more than sixteen
years working as a creative director, graphic designer, videographer, and
production specialist. I’ve also had the opportunity to create visual work for
numerous artists, bands, and record labels.
What’s special about IATT is that I’ve been able to help shape and refine the
band’s visual identity over nearly two decades. The guys trust me to guide that
side of the project, and together we’ve built a world that extends beyond the
music itself.
7.) Do you find your energy translates better in an intimate club venue or a
massive festival setting? Also, which show stands out as your all-time
favorite?
Honestly, we love both for completely different reasons.
Festival stages bring incredible energy. There’s something unforgettable about
performing in front of a large crowd and feeling that collective excitement coming
back at you. At the same time, smaller venues often create opportunities for much
more personal connections with fans. Some of our favorite memories have come
from those intimate settings where conversations happen face-to-face and
relationships are built naturally.
Both experiences are rewarding in their own way, and both continue to inspire us.
8.) Which artists inspired you to be in a band?
While we don’t consciously try to emulate any particular artist, we’re deeply
inspired by bands that continually evolve and challenge expectations. Artists like
Enslaved, Opeth, and Ihsahn have always stood out because they create complete
artistic experiences rather than simply collections of songs.
Those are the kinds of artists that inspire us—the ones willing to explore new
territories and build worlds around their music.
9.) If you could sit down and collaborate with any artist or band right now, who
would be at the top of your list?
We’re always interested in unique collaborative opportunities. On Etheric Realms
of the Night, we had the privilege of working with Didier Malherbe from the
legendary progressive rock band Gong, which was a truly special experience.
As for future collaborations, we’ve already started discussing ideas for new
material and there are definitely a few names we’d love to work with. But for now,
we’ll keep those cards close to our chest and let time reveal what’s next.
10.) What’s the current pulse of the metal scene from your perspective?
One of the most exciting things happening right now is the growing number of
bands willing to challenge conventions and push beyond genre boundaries. As
artists who have always embraced experimentation, it’s encouraging to see more
musicians taking creative risks and exploring unconventional ideas.
The scene feels increasingly open to innovation, and that’s a very healthy thing for
heavy music.
11.) Are there any endorsements or gear brands you’re currently working with
that you’d like to shout out?
We’re definitely gear enthusiasts. Joe and I both play Strandberg guitars, Jay plays
Dingwall and Warwick basses, and Paul performs on a custom Tama drum kit with
Schossleitner pedals. We all have our own collection of amps, pedals, and tools
that help shape the sound of the band.
As far as companies we’ve worked with, we’d love to give a shoutout to Lunar
Black Guitar Picks and The Guitarmory Pickups for their continued support over
the years.
12.) What does the tour calendar look like? Any big shows or festivals we
should be marked down?
We’re currently in the middle of our Etheric Realms of the Night Tour, with dates
across the East Coast and our first-ever run through Canada. It’s an exciting
milestone for the band, and we’re performing material from the new album
throughout the run.
Beyond that, we’re actively planning a larger West Coast tour later this year. There
are also a few additional surprises in the works for 2026 that we’re not quite ready
to announce yet, but fans should definitely stay tuned.
13.) Where’s the best place for fans to keep up with you and dive into your
community online?
(When including any media pages, please make sure they are hyperlinked.)
Fans can find us across all major social media platforms, including Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, and Apple Music. Our latest album, Etheric
Realms of the Night, is available now on all streaming services.
For the most up-to-date information on tour dates, merchandise, news, and our
upcoming full-length film, we encourage everyone to visit our official website at
www.iattrealm.com. The Etheric Realms of the Night film premieres worldwide on
July 24 via Thunderflix, and we’ll be sharing plenty of updates leading up to its
release.
ETHERIC REALMS OF THE NIGHT
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6EeKkHWc1PQO7vGUnyWNdr
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/iatt/1780562884
Bandcamp: https://iamthetrireme.bandcamp.com/album/etheric-realms-of-the-
night
Follow IATT
Official Website: iattrealm.com
Official Merch Store: merchbooth.net/iatt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthetrireme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iatt_official/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJZmyc6FVe8pYIgpcY0YtQ
Contact IATT
IATTManagement@gmail.com
Label:
Black Lion Records
Booking:
DNA Entertainment, LLC
Contact: Andrea Toler-Wade
Email: andrea@dna-entertainment.com
PR:
C-Squared Music
Contact: Curtis Dewar
Email: dewarpr@csquared.info
