MoriMondo vs. The Dillinger Escape Plan
Unpredictability is a risk not many bands are willing to take. MoriMondo, however, thrives in it with Christopher Rios on the mic, tying the music together. Rios is a 30-year-old vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. He grew up in Arizona from the age of 11, but thinks of California as home. Thanks to his choir director father, music was introduced to him at a young age. For Rios, that is where it first started, but he wouldn't become passionate about it until later in life.
In 2017, he began to learn to play the guitar, and in 2020, when “the pandemic made us bored out of our minds,” he began to take it more seriously. Rios would pick up anything that was thrown at him, from the guitar to the bass, and even the drums. Rios is mainly self-taught on all instruments, with a few lessons for theory and technique, a majority of lessons being for his vocals. He found it uplifting that anyone is able to sing, especially when singing has so much to do with a person's individuality. That same dedication led him to practice drums for four hours a day so he could perform a 45-minute set with a new band.
Rios is now the main vocalist and lyricist for the band MoriMondo, where he believes each member brings a unique touch to their music. In his opinion, he takes a Bob Ross approach to writing, often writing songs without a clear outcome in mind but eventually creates a masterpiece, his sound influenced by bands like Chiodos and Bring Me the Horizon. When working on music, the band will take turns playing individually, but will also come together and play as a cohesive unit. The band thrives on its flexibility, sometimes starting a song from a guitar riff, sometimes a drum pattern or a bass line.
When asked what band is best comparable to MoriMondo, Rios said The Dillinger Escape Plan is the best example for many reasons. The metalcore band, formed in 1997, is best known for their songs One of Us is the Killer and Milk Lizard. Rios thinks MoriMondo’s versatility best compares with the band, explaining that every member of MoriMondo comes from a different music background. Their lead guitarist comes from a 90s/classic rock band, their drummer is heavily influenced by heavy metal, their bassist comes from grunge music, and their rhythm guitar takes influences from pop music. Rios himself comes from a local indie band and says that all these influences combine to create a unique sound, even allowing them to play across multiple genres of music.
MoriMondo follows these influences in the same way The Dillinger Escape Plan does. While they have a focus on metal, their tracks also include hints of electropop, punk, and even jazz. This variety shaping their sound into something unique. “I’m super proud of the band because we’re able to create music as an experience rather than something played in the background of the car,” Rio explains.
Rios in particular is greatly influenced by one of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s lead singers, Mike Patton. Patton is known for his wide range in vocals and musicality, and, according to Rios, joining the band --even just for one album-- was out of left field. This “expect the unexpected” sentiment is also seen in MoriMondo. “We can comfortably say we don’t know what our music is about," says Rios. The Dillinger Escape Plan is proof that this way of thinking when creating music can bring a fresh sound to cut through all the noise. Rios' comparison is undeniably correct and shows that MoriMondo is headed down the same path of success.