Diceros have been around the Buffalo metal scene for several years now, having performed a variety of styles ranging from djent, to metalcore, to thrash. Most recently, the band have adopted something of a modern metalcore sound akin to newer Architects material or Periphery. Check out this latest interview we did with the guys and don't forget to peep their socials if you're a fan of any of the aforementioned styles!
1. Talk about the conception of Diceros. How did you come to join the project, or perhaps you originally formed the band? I can't remember. I've also noticed several stylistic changes with you guys over the years. How has Diceros pushed you as a musician?
Ryan Wilson (guitars): JR reached out to me, having jammed together briefly in a band called Stonehed. He and Jay were looking to get something heavy and melodic going. The three of us began writing and looking for a bassist and vocalist. I think vocalist changes played into our style changes but also our introduction of extended range guitars has helped evolve the sound a bit. In Diceros we all push each other to play harder and open our minds to new sounds and ideas.
JR Geis (drums): As far as for starting. I was bored with playing classic rock and didn't want to really be another cover band competing with the 50+ other cover bands for a 4 to 5 hr long night. I wanted to be a part of this amazing metal scene and share the stage with other great musicians who I also get inspiration from. So I asked Jay (at the time we were in a cover band lol) and bugged you to join. From there it took off. Going through several members until we got to where we are today....
2. How long have you been playing guitar? Who first inspired you to play?
Ryan: I've been playing guitar for 20 years. My dad encouraged me to start playing.
3. Talk about the first bands or artists that inspired you to become a musician in the first place.
Ryan: Coal Chamber, Saliva and The Vines were my original source of musical inspiration. It wasn't until my Dad turned me on to classics like Ozzy, AC/DC and Led Zepplin that I really started getting interested in more riff oriented metal. This eventually led to me spending way too long trying to emulate Zakk Wylde, everything from the pinch harmonics to the sweeping wah pedal leads. I even cut off the rubber pads on my Duncan Crybaby to get the extended range like he did.
4. When it comes to music today, talk about some bands who have emerged, in say, the past ten years who have really inspired you and influenced your writing. Feel free to discuss local bands if this calls for it.
Ryan: Most of our influences have been around longer than that but I'd say bands like Avatar, Kublai Khan, and Inferi come to mind when I think of newer influences on our writing.
Local bands that have inspired me over the years would be The Long Cold Dark, Scenery with Solace, From the Sky and Inertia.
5. What made you guys name the band Diceros? We've talked about this before in past discussions or interviews, but for newer readers, discuss anything that first inspired the name and corresponding artwork.
Ryan: At the time I was listening to a lot of the doom metal band Horn of the Rhino so, when a buddy of mine started throwing scientific animal names at me it just stuck. Diceros bicornis is the name for the Black Rhino. It also means two horns which we occasionally reference in our artwork.
6. Thinking back on your full catalogue with Diceros, talk about a few songs you're most proud of having written and what makes them so special to you.
Ryan: "I am Machine" is one of my favorites, I'm most proud of the intro riff and solo. I had wanted to learn sweep picking for years and never really had a place for it until that lead. "Misery" is one we all look back fondly on for being heavy, mean, and a lot of fun to play. "Fear of Falling" is another one I'm proud of for the overall mood and feel, nothing super flashy, just a fun song.
7. Gear segment: You're kind of a gear nerd I would imagine, which I love, so I'd love to hear about the ways you've enhanced your live setup since you started playing. What are some brands or products you swear by when it comes to your live setup? If you have a home studio, I want to hear about all that too. I like asking questions like these because the more we analyze each other's equipment choices in this community, the better we are going to sound. ...Right? (lol)
Ryan: We are all gear nerds in Diceros! You bring up a good point about learning from the community, Brian Platter (of course as you know from The Last Reign) recommended our latest live improvement, the Cymatic LP-16. We use it to run our click and occasional backing tracks. We had toyed around with using a click throughout the years using just a phone but that is error prone and not always the greatest for running backing tracks.
Jay and I are both replacing our Peavey 6505s with Fractal digital amp models. I'm now running an FM3 and a Powerstage into my Marshall cab. The Fractal units allow you to come up with combos of tones and effects called "scenes". I've got all my scene changes synced to MIDI through our LP-16. No more pedal tap dancing. I've included effect changes that normally I would have only reserved for the studio into my live sound including heavily gated rhythm sections and noisy, deep low end gain blooms.
Important gear that I swear by would be noise gates and EQs. Even in my digital rig I have them in my signal chain. Having a good noise gate or two (if you use an effects loop) can really clean up your sound. It's also fun to turn them off to let some feedback ring. EQ after the overdrive allows me to sculpt the mids in my tone, especially with the 8 strings.
8. If everyone in the band wants to jump in right here, please give us your respective "scene histories". Talk about every project you've ever been involved with musically, actively live or not, besides Diceros.
Ryan: I've only played in one other band, that was Stonehed with Ed Brown, Dave Riccio and Pat Zak. Good bunch of dudes, good music and fun times.
JR: I consider Diceros to be my heart and soul. However I love helping other great bands when I can by filling in on drums. Helps me open my mind to completely different playing styles and helps me become a better drummer. Last year I had the privilege of helping The Last Reign on their tour, the year before that I helped The Long Cold Dark with a show or 2.
Jake Lodico (bass): My first ever band was called Zoidburgh and we mostly played Metallica covers. I did brief stints playing bass in Burial Dawn and Prowler throughout 2011 and 2012. My first serious live performing band was Sic Sin, I joined the band in 2012 and the project was completely dissolved by early 2015. I was asked to fill in on bass for Diceros in early 2014 and became a full time member late that same year.
Jay Kosiak (guitars): Started playing guitar 1994ish
Was in a couple bands throughout high school that only played a couple shows:
1997ish - Now Featuring
1999ish - Zero Productivity
Significant bands were:
2001ish - Sick of Trying
2003ish - Displaced
2007ish - Kandid Theory
2009ish - Salem Driver
Andrew Breton (vocals): I don't remember dates. I'm 45.
First band Morbid Death when I was 16 death metal project.
Then, a brief stint in 3lb mindtrip in maybe 05 an industrial metal project didn't play out with either projects however 3lb mindtrip was a confidence builder for me they tried out something like 30 singers ,although brief do to personal differences between guitarist at myself
Pretty sure in '06 I sang for Plastiik Skiin spelled as such I don't know, think was in that project for a couple years ..kind of nu metalish/industrial stuff
Then few years later was in a project called love lies bleeding sang for them played a couple shows then disbanded but guitarist Shane Stevenson and myself remained writing under the name a face for the nameless a industrial project then Shane murdered a couple people and that left me by myself.
I began working on my own electronic music and then did that for a few and then Diceros.
Pretty sure that's it.
9. Talk about the most memorable live shows you guys have ever played (any band) and why those gigs were so special.
Ryan: Playing a fundraiser show for our bass player, Jake's uncle Joe was definitely a memorable one. Joe was a huge influence on Jake as a musician, seeing him get on stage to play Jake's bass was a very cool moment.
Our most recent show opening for Nonpoint was a highlight for us. Maybe one of our most successful shows, it's also opened up some doors for more exciting opportunities in the future.
JR: Most memorable shows..... one would be when we opened for I'm from the government on their first ever show. The crowd was insane, and the energy I felt behind the kit from the crowd was very intense. Same as when we opened for Nonpoint. When I could see the crowd, they were singing the songs super loud and that level of energy will be something I'll never forget. There are many other shows that were just amazing with energy, the energy that gets my adrenaline flowing and is what makes it all worth it. Especially when you're done with your set and they chant "one more song".
10. Discuss any future plans in the Diceros camp you're at liberty to discuss. (recording, shows, etc.)
Ryan: Currently writing new music. We've got a show coming up with Soulfly at the Rec Room on February 24th, we're super excited to share the stage with them.
11. Plug yourselves! List links to your whole online presence here:
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and check out our website: dicerosband.com
Our music is on Youtube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple and other major streaming sources.
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